Voice of the Shepherd
So the (religious ones and the political ones) gathered around him and said to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ (John 10.24)
TELL you what exactly?
That, yes, I am the Messiah? But what does that mean? You have drawn your religious and political lines in the sand and called what’s between those lines Messiah. Am I an invincible and righteous warrior king, who’s going to lead you to victory against the Romans and then set you on the thrones of the New Jerusalem to administer law and justice over all the world, in the name of Jahweh, your God? Is this what you want me to say? You’d understand that, wouldn’t you? But that doesn’t make it true.
Or shall I tell you, No, I am not the One whom all Scripture has been pointing to and leading to, that I am not the fulfillment of all prophecy, that I have not come to set all creation, all beings free? Would that leave you feeling safe or wise or justified? Would you be satisfied then?
Tell us plainly, huh? And you are the ones your people think they should turn to for spiritual things! I have told you, but you don’t believe.
Alright, I’ll speak plainly. The tao that is called the tao is not the tao. The unnamable is the eternally real…
Oh. I see you are not ready for that. Look, I am the shepherd. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.
Come on. Stop screeching what you don’t understand. Open your ears. Listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church…
Tonnau Duw ('God's waves') Fr Tim Ardouin 