Sunday’s Reading includes Jn 18:33-37. It ends with an incredibly important sentence. That sentence has one extraordinarily important word. It is so important that it separates sheep from goats!
Pilate said to Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”
Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.”
So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
All Christians read that passage with some satisfaction. “I am a Christian. Jesus is speaking truth to power. I believe in Jesus.”
But, there is a pesky word in the last sentence “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” What does “listen” mean?
It’s important! Professional Protestants encourage a simple-mindedness that concludes “listen” simply means “hear” and “hearing implies belief” and “I listen, so I believe, so I ‘belong to the truth’. Therefore, I am going to Heaven!”
BUT, and this is the biggest “BUT” there is, “listen” also has a meaning that implies obeying. Would Jesus want us to listen and not obey? He tells us that is impossible by letting us know: “If you obey My commands you are My friends.”
So, we see that Jesus wants us to not only “listen” but also, “obey”.
That being true, we reread the sentence so that it is understood as it is intended: “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice (and does what I command.)”
His commands include The Great Winnowing Command: “If you do not eat My Body and drink My Blood you do not have life in you.”
Once we read “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice” with the clearly implied subordinate clause, “and does what I command” and apply that to “If you do not eat My Body and drink My Blood you do not have life in you.” we cannot help but be led to the only source of His Body and Blood, Catholic Communion.
There is no honest way to avoid that.
