Acts 8: 26-40; Psalm 66; John 6: 44-51
If we only had Acts we would think the first creed of the young church was “Jesus Christ is Son of God,” but it is rather, “Jesus Christ is Lord.” Some feminists change the word “Lord,” but no other word can suffice to command the obedience we owe to this pioneer who leads us. He not only leads us into the future, but in John’s theology the future is now. His is a realized eschatology, the last things made already present. For example, Jesus says, “…whoever believes has eternal life.” Not in the future but right now. He gives his life “for the life of the world.” Not just human beings but all creation in all the worlds, this planet and all the galaxies.
“Story, symbol, myth are used [in Scripture] to open us to the larger dimension of mystery, wonder, imagination, and meaning,” writes Michael Morwood, an Australian priest-theologian in Tomorrow’s Catholic. Take the symbol, “for the life of the world,” and let your wonder and imagination picture the galaxies bathed in the light of the Lord, the risen Christ. Hear the music of the galaxies as all the worlds cry “Alleluia!”
Come, Holy Spirit, into all of our hearts: Jesus Christ is Lord. Give all Christians the wisdom to obey him, all peoples a way to discover his glory in whatever way they relate to the universe.