Stiff necked satisfy hunger

The response of some to the message proclaimed by Jesus and the Apostles is described as ‘stiff necked” in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. The learned scholars to whom Stephen makes his case in the episode from Acts are enraged, especially by reference to the stiff necked who refused the direction of Moses, and stone Stephen to death in this rage. What is the extent to which we will go to defend against what we conclude is an attack on our way and our life style. The ‘heresy’ in the views of others is often not as offensive to us as the challenge to our own comfortable beliefs. The prayer of the psalmist for refuge is the assurance we witness in Stephen that the Way of his journey, though through persecution and death, is the Way of Life. The plea of the psalmist may be misinterpreted as protection against controversy and challenges to belief. That would put the psalmist in the group of stiff necked who continue to miss the point. The Gospel of John tells of Jesus proclamation to be the Bread of Life. The relationship with Him, through the indwelling Spirit, brings the Life of which Stephen is the witness. The crowds around Jesus seek to see again the bread of Moses which requires that they maintain their necks in the current direction and do not seek the faith to trust that the Life which satisfies hunger requires a change of attitude.