Jesus says something rather strange about his disciples in the Gospel of John. (Jn 15:19). Praying to his Father he says, “They do not belong to the world . . . They are not of the world anymore than I am of the world.” What could he possibly mean?
Isn’t this world all we know? It’s our home. Its gravity keeps our feet on the ground. The seasons bring wheat to the fields and food to our tables. We just landed a camera on Mars and what do we see? Nothing but sand and rock. Meanwhile, the Pink Magnolia in spring is a wonderland of life. If God made the world for you and me, what do you mean ‘I don’t belong to the world?’
Jesus is using the word “world” to describe the way people carry on their everyday lives. We are born from our parents. We learn how to walk and talk and get along in our lives. We fall in love, marry, have chil- dren, and die. Along the way we amuse ourselves with sports, music, media and the arts. This is “The Way of the World”. We all live in this way.
Oh yes, we live “in the world” no doubt. But we don’t “belong”. (Webster defines “belong” as “to have a proper or suitable place”.) Jesus has come to show us that our “proper place” is with him . . . and then together with us . . . Jesus is “in the Father”. And then at last, God will be “all in all”. 1 Cor. 15:28
The world doesn’t get this. Even from the cross Jesus knew of the ignorance of “the world”. “Father forgive them for they know not what they’re doing.” Luke 23:34. (Also: Acts 3:18, 19.) People just don’t get this Jesus and what he has come to show us. It’s all there in the New Testament Scriptures for anyone who’d care to read it. It’s been proclaimed by the Church for over 2000 years.
So, Jesus says Christians live “in the world” but not “of the world”. The day to day struggle to simply exist on earth (living life getting food, clothing, shelter, etc.) is living in the world. We all must do this. BUT, Jesus has shown us something more. Human beings are God’s children. Our proper place, the one for which we were created, is to share in God’s divine nature. We’re more than this world. The world can’t hold us — it’s not big enough to be our home. Only God is big enough.
Theologians later described this human share in divinity as a Supernatural Existential. That means we have, as part of our human nature, a capacity to receive the life of God. It’s called Grace. That’s right. God wants us to become like Him! To have this happen we need to belong to Christ. (Non-Christians will get to know Christ in God’s mysterious ways).
In the meantime, we are like pilgrims traveling through this world. St. Paul says it’s like we live in a “tent”. “For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent (our body) be destroyed (death), we have a building from God, a dwelling not made by hands, eternal in heaven.” 2 Cor. 5:1
St. Paul was so struck by the power of life in Christ that he “longed to be away from the body and at home with the Lord . . . but we aspire to please Him, whether we are at home or away.” 2 Cor. 5:1-10 (Read it! It’s wonderful.)
So, we are witnesses of Christ’s truth to the world. It’s what brings us hope. The world cries, “the sky is falling, the sky is falling!” Christians say, “Let’s fix it. But remember, we’re only renting this place. Our true home is with the Lord.”
No Pink Magnolias till April. It’ll be sweet.
Fr. Tim
Save the Date: February 5th
Bishop Salvatore Matano is joining us for mass in one week!
He will be celebrant and homilist at the 10:30 mass, February 5. Coffee hour will follow. Come say “hello” to the bishop.
