never satisfied- John 6:28,30

Genuine Christian discipleship is not just a matter of words

"What must we do to perform the works of God? ... What is the work you do?"
John 6:28,30

Once there was a lonely man who wanted a pet -- one that would not require a great deal of care. He merely wanted something to come home to in the evening, something to keep him company. He went to a pet store and explained His need to the proprietor. The pet store owner said that he had just the thing the man was looking for: a canary "guaranteed to sing." The man agreed that it seemed like the perfect choice, bought the canary and took it home. The next day the lonely man hurried home from work and, as he entered his house, was overwhelmed by the sound of beautiful music coming from the canary. He was very pleased and proceeded to feed the bird as he listened to its wonderful sound. But when he opened the cage he discovered that the canary had only one leg. One leg! This irritated Him. He felt cheated! And so he packed up the cage and returned to the pet store. "You sold me a canary with only one leg," he complained to the proprietor. To which the store owner replied, "Well what did you want, a singer or a dancer?"

We're never satisfied, some of us. It's one of the signs of the times. We're given a singer, but we're not satisfied. We want a dancer. We're given a child with his or her own unique personality, but we're not satisfied -- and we proceed to try to conform him or her to our own. We're given a good body, but we're not satisfied -- and we proceed to destroy it with overindulgence. We're given a beautiful world, but we're not satisfied -- and we proceed to exploit it and make it ugly. We're given gifts that are uniquely ours, but we're not satisfied -- and we feel cheated and long for the gifts that others possess. The "never satisfied" person is often a destructive influence, a source of needless anxiety, tension and unhappiness, not only in his or her own life but also in the life of others. Paradoxically, in the most important area of life -- our relationship with God -- a "never satisfied" person is a constructive influence, a source of peace and joy, not only in his or her own life but also in the life of others.

As a Christian people we can never be satisfied merely to celebrate God's love for us. Scripture is absolutely clear about this. God's love is given to us not only as the Source of our own wholeness but as a Gift that is to be shared with others. An essential part of our Christian discipleship is to share the Gift with others. Not just a few of us but every one of us, without exception, is called upon to share the Gift of God's Love with others. The Prophet Jeremiah talked about the "fire in his bones." And "Woe is me," he said, "if I don't let that fire spread."

Genuine Christian discipleship is not just a matter of words, words, words about God's loving Presence in the world. Genuine Christian Evangelism is not just a matter of words, words, words about Jesus as the ultimate revelation of God's Love. Spreading the Good News is not just a matter of strategies, not just a battle of wits, not just an intellectual exercise. True Evangelism is a matter of sharing the actual experience of the Christ Spirit in our lives. It is a loving, joyful, enthusiastic, oftentimes spontaneous spilling over of the life-transforming Spirit of God we have received from the Lord Jesus.

The first mission of the early Christians was to share the Good News of how the experience of Christ had changed everything for them. The experience of Christ had given them new hope. The experience of Christ had given them a deeper sense of their own worthwhileness than they had ever known before. The experience of Christ had given them a whole new way of looking at God's creation, a whole new attitude and approach toward other persons. The experience of Christ had given them a whole new way of understanding who they were and what they ought to do. The experience of Christ had so filled them to overflowing with a whole new sense of joy that they could not contain it. They simply had to share it.

Today's Gospel Lesson is the first part of Jesus' discourse on the Bread of Life. He tells the people, "You should not be working for perishable food but for the food that remains unto life eternal, food which the Son of Man will give you; it is on Him that God the Father has set His seal" (Jn.6:27). "What must we do to perform the works of God?" the people ask (Jn.6:28). Jesus replies, "This is the work of God; have faith in the One whom He sent" (Jn.6:29). "So that we can put faith in You what sign are you going to perform for us to see?" they ask. "What is the work You do?" (Jn.6:28-30).

So that others can put faith in the Jesus we know and love, what sign are we to perform for them to see? What is the work we do? First of all, as true Christian disciples, we cannot be satisfied to keep the Good News to ourselves. Sharing the Good News is a necessary precondition for our own fulfillment as a Christian people. Secondly, we can talk to others about salvation and about Jesus' life and ministry and about Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and it will be helpful, hopefully. But ultimately it is a life lived out in the world in which the Christ Spirit is reflected that draws people to Jesus. That is the sign we have to offer! That is the work we do!

At a retreat house called "Abundant Life," when a retreat has ended the participants follow a custom of making their own bed and leaving a note for the next occupant of the room. Usually the note contains a little prayer or some word of encouragement. One retreatant found the following note under his pillow when he arrived:

Observations of a skeptic. I don't want to be told that God loves me or that Jesus loves me. I want to feel that the people who call themselves "Christian" love me. Then perhaps I can realize the Love of God and the Love of Christ. I don't want to be told about the Love of God and then find eyes averted when I look straight at a Christian. I want to see God's Love in eyes that are unafraid to look into mine, eyes that shine from a soul that is sincere. I want to experience God's love through a smile that says, "I love you, I accept you right where you are. I want genuinely to be your friend, now and when we leave this retreat place." Then, maybe, I can begin to believe in that Love from God through this strange Christ that Christians talk so much about. And if I believe, then perhaps I too can live in Love and give it to others. And, you know, I think I did find some of God's Love here this weekend. Be ready on your retreat to receive it, and be ready to give it. Peace. -- Harry

The following beautiful insight was composed by a young man afflicted with terminal cancer. The Christmas after he died, his mother shared it with relatives and friends, instead of the usual Christmas card:

REFLECTION Why is it that so many people can't see ... including myself, that life here on earth can be a beautiful experience almost beyond belief.

I believe God has shown me some answers. Take people, for instance. God made everybody and He doesn't make mistakes. There is something beautiful in every person and all it takes is a little effort to see and respect it and you've got a friend.

It's too easy to be critical: nobody is perfect -- nobody -- but everybody needs happiness and someone to understand them and to do that gives a very special feeling to those who make the effort. I'm talking about a true happiness!

God's love is here in
this worship experience. As Jesus' followers, we cannot be satisfied, ever, merely to accept it. As Jesus' followers, we cannot be happy, ever, merely to receive it. As Jesus' followers, we are not ready to receive it until we are ready to share it. I'm talking about a true happiness!