Certain of the sayings of Jesus are hard to do. If someone strikes you on one cheek turn and offer the other one, for example. But other sayings are just not that easy to understand. Take this word from St. Mark’s gospel: “whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness.” Wow, Jesus, the man of forgiveness, seeing divine mercy as impossible! In context we can see his point — if people are so “stiff-necked” that they see his kindness, compassion, healing, loving presence as of the devil what possible avenue can they have to receive God’s merciful forgiveness? The ironic conclusion: if you shut your eyes to the grace of God at work you are closing yourself off from receiving the divine gift.
