When Faith Gets Real

When I was in middle school I decided I would ‘try out’ for the basketball team. I enjoyed playing the sport with my friends, to the extent that ‘shotting hoops’ in the driveway is playing basketball, so I figured it would be fun. I was selected for the ‘C Team’, but I didn’t mind. I didn’t mind until practices started, that is. Once the team practices started up, I realized just how much work was required. I only lasted three weeks, and never played a single game. It just wasn’t for me.

The same thing can happen when it comes to our spiritual lives. We think we are interested in living our lives as Christians, but once the reality of what that life entails ‘clicks in’ we begin to second guess our devotion to the Church and the way of life. So long as my playing basketball was limited to the driveway, I wanted to play, but when it ‘got real’ that was another story. Take a moment and read today’s Gospel lesson.

The Lord said to the Jews who had believed in him, “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.” This he said in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum. Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at it, said to them, “Do you take offense at this?” Then what if you were to see the Son of man ascending where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you that do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him. Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are Christ, the Son of the living God.” – John 6.56-69

Far beyond Judas being part today’s story, there were many disciples that turned away from Christ even before His Passion, because it was getting real. “This was a hard saying,” might as well describe every sermon in every Divine Liturgy we attend. The life of Christ is always a challenge, but it is the challenge that eventually pays off. I never experienced playing an ‘actual’ game of basketball, and I sometimes wonder if I would have stayed after experiencing something beyond practice.

I will never know if I would have enjoyed basketball, but we CAN know if we enjoy the life of the Church. Eventually I would have experienced drills with the other members of my team to get a taste of the sport. The same is true for the Church. Life now is practice for life in heaven, for sure, but every Sunday we leave the front doors of the Church we are able to experience the life, as if we were having drills to ‘get a feel’ for the life Christ wants us to live.

Whatever your choice, I invite you to stick with it even when it gets real in the Church. Even when you are expected to forgive without resentment, or serving without being served, or accept the truth of God when that truth goes against secular logic, don’t walk away. Don’t walk away just because it gets hard. That’s what I did in middle school, and I never experienced the joy of the sport. If you walk away from the Church now, just because things are getting real, you will never experience the joy of Christ.

One final point I wish to make. It is tempting for clergy and lay leaders to ‘go easy’ on expectations so people don’t leave. I may have stayed in the game if the practices never got real, but then I would have ended up hating the game because I was not prepared. Some people will walk away from Christ, and we must respect their free will to walk away. Christ didn’t go chasing after them saying, “Ok! Ok! I didn’t really mean it. You don’t need to pick up your cross.” He allowed them to depart, and so must we.

Those who remained with Christ were victorious, and so we will be victorious if we stay the course. Instead of dropping out, let’s keep up the effort and stay in the game. Christ is our coach, and the Church is our team. Things will get real, but we will be ready for them if we work hard now. Don’t forget to meet with your Spiritual Father often so he can help you improve your technique. He will make sure you’re ready for when your faith gets real, because it is going to get real, real soon.