By Fr. Andrew Kelly
21ST SUNDAY ORDINAL TIME – AUG. 26
Belief and non-belief have been an issue within faith communities since the very beginning. It did not begin in 2012.
In Sunday’s Gospel (John 6:60-69), the risen Jesus confronts the 2012 community as Jesus confronted the Johannine community:
“The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.”
Then, as now, there were baptized disciples who could/would not believe that the shared word, body and blood were truly God’s word, body and blood revealing the divine presence.
Then, as now: “Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him.”
Eventually every baptized disciple has to make a decision: “Do I believe? Or do I not believe?”
Decision time is every Sunday’s gathering for Eucharist. After the listening, preaching, eating and drinking, the risen Jesus asks the community what Jesus asked the 12: “Do you also wish to go away?”
Hopefully and prayerfully the 2012 community’s creed will be Simon Peter’s creed:
“Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
(Father Andrew Kelly is a retired priest of the Diocese of Davenport.)
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