So,
they said to him, "What can we do to accomplish the works of
God?"
Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent."
Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent."
John 6:28-29
This
small excerpt from this Sunday’s Gospel is extraordinary.
Last
week, we heard about the abundance of God.
The multiplication of loaves and fishes could not be more obvious: God
gives a trophy to every child. We hate
that, but He does it. It’s good – truly – to be the best you can be – but don’t
expect God to reward you more than he who fails.
The
excerpt I’ve chosen from this Sunday’s Gospel reading really says the same
thing. How do you accomplish the works
of God? With simple belief. Ah ha! So, you have to believe in correct dogma! Or believe in the Incarnation! Or believe in
the existence of God!
No. You cannot believe something by sheer force
of will, or to receive reward or avoid punishment. More importantly, no loving God would require
it. What Jesus is saying is existential:
You cannot accomplish the works of God.
Or better yet – they have been accomplished for you.
It
is good news.
Photo: Cathedral Rock, Arizona
