It may be a shift to read the Gospels and feel discomfort. While the words and actions of Jesus enlighten, they are no escape hatch. Conflict, tension, and frustration still plague believers. But we read the Gospels for one purpose: to know Jesus better — not for warm fuzzies, easy answers, or reinforcement of prejudices. Nor will we always encounter “Jesus, meek and mild.” He who threatened cozy assumptions of his contemporaries may have the same effect on us. If we rely on the wrong supports, like wealth, prestige, or religious rituals, he will challenge us, too. Jesus questioned many of the customs of his time, such as the subservient role of women and the authority of the Pharisees. In “Real Presence: The Work of Eucharist”, Nathan Mitchell writes: “It is hard to believe that Jesus was simply an early flower child who traipsed through the sunlit fields talking about lilies and love! Who would seek to arrest such a sap?”

We may be uncomfortable with the Gospel’s storytelling if we want just the facts. We might prefer a precise blueprint or spreadsheet to rambling, inconsistent stories. But if we compare the Bible to our own complex, difficult life stories, then we grow more comfortable with its mixed genres. We find links where the larger story of God intersects with our personal lives. So we reflect not only on Jesus’ and the Hebrews’ experience in the desert, but also on our own desert times. Wandering in the wilderness brings valuable insights that we do not learn in secure kitchens. As much as we enjoy the intriguing connections, storytelling has its shortcomings. It is unscientific, subject to interpretation, and sometimes wildly inaccurate. Two people who attended the same party might tell radically different accounts.

So, too, each Gospel writer has a different emphasis. Even within the Gospel of John, there are inconsistencies: “Jesus was deeply troubled (John 13:21)”, but in the next chapter, Jesus says: “Do not let your hearts be troubled (John 14:1).” Those who enjoy stories listen beneath the words. Their primary interest is the meaning stories give our experiences. We do not read the Gospels primarily for scientific accuracy or historical fact, but to follow Jesus better. We read through the lens of a human author who will sometimes shade, condense, or exaggerate. Sometimes we may also need to read biblical interpretation, but most important is our response. There’s an old saying: The Gospel gives the chapter headings, but we write the texts in our lives.

The Gospels have been misused to incite guilt. Some people may need that stern correction to luxuriating while others starve. But many hard-working people are simply trying to survive, raise families, and do their jobs while being as generous as possible with their time and treasure. They certainly do not need another guilt trip! What we may find harder than guilt is the Gospel’s insistence on how splendid we are. Jesus walked among the diseased, smelly, and sweaty, assured them that even in poverty, mourning, or persecution, they were blessed. Mired in our own problems, do we struggle with good news? Admittedly, the central message is hard to absorb. We, limited and flawed, are made in his divine image. Throughout the Gospels, the message recurs: you are not a slave. You are a friend and adopted child with an eternal inheritance — not condemned to futility or the finality of death. The implications could be uncomfortable. God chose us for a unique pur- pose and equips us to get it done. So, no whining or stalling! Get on with it!

About the Author: Kathy Coffey is the author of thirteen books and countless articles in publica- tions like National Catholic Reporter, Saint Anthony Messenger, and America Magazine. In addi- tion to being an award-winning writer, poet, and retreat director, she teaches at the University of Colorado and Regis Jesuit University. She is the mother of four children and a grandmother of four. If you enjoyed this week’s message, check out Bringing Home the Word! A new edition is posted here every week!

CCGR Weekly Newsletter (11-5-17) 
Bringing Home the Word (11-5-17)

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