Yellow Brick Road

Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.”

As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:60-69)

We are still in the Easter season.  Do we still walk with him, or have we returned to our former way of life?  Prior to Easter our faith intensifies especially during Holy Week when much is happening, and our liturgical rites are awe-inspiring.  But afterwards we tend to settle back into old ways of thinking and behaving with our falling back into traps of temptation and anti-Christ attitudes.  It’s hard to be consistent and continue to commit to the belief that the Spirit gives life, while the flesh is of no avail.  

Jesus did have the words of eternal life, and we believe and are convinced that Jesus is the Holy One of God.  To whom else shall we go?  To go to someone else would be an act of betrayal and abandonment.  

The Eucharist is our yellow-brick road to the Emerald Kingdom.  However, we will find no Wizard.  Just eternal life.   So, we Dorothy’s, lions, scarecrows and tin men must keep walking and listening to Jesus.  He is our destination.

Deacon David Pierce