Leap over the Stumbling Block

John’s Gospel from the texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary for today reveals some of the proclamations of Jesus which were “stumbling blocks to the Jews”. The God who the psalmist praises for the Exodus of the Hebrew people from Egypt by mighty hand and outstretched arm seems to be replaced by a Divine Presence which sends Itself as a human to execute the Divine Will. This will is not obviously pointed to the glory of Israel as the times perhaps required. It is aimed at an intimate relationship with all and everyone. That would mean as Saul the persecutor in Acts would say after his transformation to Paul, through his relationship with the Risen Jesus, there are no Greeks, no Jews, no Gentiles. The universality of the Will of the Father to be in intimate relationship with all people is a huge leap. Today we still hesitate to trust to make the leap. We continue to stumble. God continues to invite us to be transformed.