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Murmurings

When people whisper, what they whisper usually is not flattering. It’s also usually not accurate. If it was either of these things, it probably wouldn’t have to be whispered.

“Stop murmuring among yourselves,” Jesus tells the community in today’s Gospel, and I think I detect a hint of impatience in his voice — or is that just my own bias? Maybe, maybe not. But it’s true that what they were whispering about wasn’t particularly flattering, and it also wasn’t very accurate: Did you hear what he said? That he’s the bread of life? 

Do they disbelieve, or are they simply confused? Resentful? Afraid? Overwhelmed? We don’t know, but we do know that they’re not bringing their questions into the open. They’re whispering them, trading them secretly, like contraband candy.

We know this guy. Who does he think he is? Well, if you ask me…

And then we get to what is usually the true purpose of a whispered opinion: the desire to make oneself out as the correct and unchallenged judge of the matter at hand.

In many ways, we have become a Church of murmurers. Did you see what Bishop So-and-So said to Such-and-Such newspaper? Did you hear what Fr. Whatshisname said in his homily? Who does he think he is? Well, if you ask me…

Perhaps it was always this way, even before modern times. Perhaps this Gospel shows us that this is no new thing.

Today, we see Jesus respond to his sulking critics by drawing their attention back to the truth at the heart of his teaching. Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. And that is the end of their murmuring.

The truth is like a brick wall, and it knocks them over — or rather they, hurling themselves against it, knock themselves over.

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever.” — John 6:51

Article contributed by: Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman

©LPi

Readings for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Lectionary 116