November 7 - John 7-8: Missing God

At some point, we've all had one of those experiences where we're trying to explain something to someone and they have that blank look, like a deer in headlights.  And as you continue to try to make yourself understood, with an abundance of words, a look of disbelief or dismissal crosses your listener's face and you know you've been missed.  Something didn't connect and you feel strangely judged and alone in the presence of this person.

Jesus' experience wasn't exactly like that, but He was certainly missed by the Pharisees.  They didn't get it.  Their looks of puzzlement turned into hostile questioning.  Jesus persevered in explaining things to them over and over, despite their hard heads and stubborn hearts.

'If you knew me, you would at the same time know the Father'....Then he went over the same ground again.  'I'm leaving and you are going to look for me, but you're missing God in this and are headed for a dead end.  There is no way you can come with me.' 

The Jews said, "So, is he going to kill himself?  Is that what he means by 'You can't come with me'?"

Jesus said, 'You're tied down to the mundane; I'm in touch with what is beyond your horizons.  You live in terms of what you see and touch.  I'm living on other terms.  I told you that you were missing God in all this.  You're at a dead end.  If you won't believe I am who I say I am, you're at the dead end of sins.  You're missing God in your lives.'  (8:19-24)

I don't want to hear those words from God.  Don't want to be tied down to the mundane of this life;  in touch only with my physical reality, what I can see and touch.  I want to have an open face to God, not a blank look of questioning or disbelief.  God, don't let me miss You because I'm holding so tightly to my understanding of You and of life.  Thank You for leading me to freedom to love because of You and leading me away from the dead end of my sins.

"My Son confronted and contradicted every lesser understanding of what it means to really live, every understanding that centrally defines life as less suffering and more happiness.  Real life, the life that My Son and I and Our Spirit have always and will forever enjoy is the joy of loving.  We give to each other.  You bear Our image.  Your deepest desire is to love as We love.  Your deepest need is to be loved.  I love you.  your need is met.  You are now free to do what you  most want to do, what I created you to do, to live life to the full, to love, to love Me and others as My Son did during His time on earth and still does."  (66LL)

Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him, 'If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure.  Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.'  (8;31-32)