Monday
of the 3rd Week of Easter
April 20, 2015 8:30am
There is an interesting question
and answer in today’s gospel.
Toward the end of this
conversation with Jesus, the people ask: “What
can we do to accomplish the works of God?”
And Jesus answers: “This is the work of God: that you believe
in the one he sent.”
So, they want to know what are
the “works of God,” works, in the
plural.
But Jesus responds in the
singular: “This is the work of God: that
you believe in the one he sent.”
Jesus’ point is that the one
thing necessary is to believe in him.
So this one thing, this one work
is not just another law to keep and it is not just a mental or intellectual
assent.
It is rather a relationship.
To believe in the one God sent is
to accept that Jesus is the Son, that he is the Savior, that he is the way to
God, to the Father.
Now, a lot can eventually flow
from this belief in Jesus.
As with any close relationship,
little by little it can make greater and greater claims on us.
So in faith, in our relationship
with Jesus, little by little we make him primary and make him the basis of what
we do and say and think.
But the important thing to recall
for ourselves and for the way we look upon others, is that faith is first and
foremost a relationship that we try to live.
It is a relationship that is
living, always imperfect, and always growing.
The Franciscan priest, theologian
and spiritual writer Richard Rohr says it very well.
Father Rohr says: ‘How good of you, God, to make truth a
relationship instead of an idea.
Now there is room between you and me for growth, for conversation, …
You offer me the possibility to undo, to please, to apologize, to
change, to surrender, and to grow.’
This is good religion, worthy of free, intelligent, and mature people.”
So, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”
And Jesus answers: “This is the work of God: that you believe
in the one he sent.”
