YOU WON’T FIND A RULER 

OR A MEASURING CUP 

IN GOD’S KITCHEN 
 OR TOP DRAWER

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “You Won’t Find a Ruler or a Measuring Cup in God’s Kitchen or Top Drawer.”

I was intrigued by a sentence - as well as a word - in today’s gospel - - that I don’t remember ever noticing before. That’s the beauty of being able to reflect and read and preach on the daily readings.

The sentence is in John 3: 34b, “He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.”

Using the full text,  John 3:34 says, “He” - namely Jesus - the one God the Father sent “does not ration his gift of the Spirit.”

The word “ration” hit me. I did a little bit of research on the text - and my guess was right:  it’s rare - very rare. Raymond Brown, the Sulpician, who was a world famous authority on the scriptures - and especially The Gospel of John - said this in the only place the thought can be found in Greek literature. That’s quite a statement. But he says that it can be found a bit in the Jewish writings of the prophets - where God is said to portion out his Spirit.  Ray Brown wonders if the author of John is making that contrast. [1]

So that’s a profound message: God does not give just glasses of cold water. God gives waterfalls and oceans of water. God doesn’t just give bits of the Holy Spirit - God gives unlimited gifts of the Spirit - God doesn’t just send gentle breezes, God sends wind that shakes houses and shakes lives.

Any takers?

GREEK WORD

The Greek word in the text is “metron.”  It’s first meaning would be “measure”. The text is saying that in Jesus the Spirit was not rationed. It was just poured out on Jesus and Jesus poured that love out on people - without limit - without measurement - without ration.

Our text is a bit creative - translating “metron” into English by the word “ration”.  Other English translations use the word “measure.”

Now even though the word “ration” or “measure” or “metron” is only found here in John 3:34b, the theme of the overabundance and overflowing - and the beyond measure love of God - is a Bible theme.

I love that the Redemptorist motto is “Copiosa apud eum redemptio” - With him there is fullness, copious, unlimited forgiveness - buy back by God redemption.” We Redemptorists forget this at times - but it’s always there to challenge us - which mottos are supposed to do.

Jesus preached this theme big time in his great parables - like the Prodigal Son and the Lost Sheep - and you can enter the vineyard at the last hour. Jesus preached this from the cross - forgiving those who killed him.

The Risen Lord Jesus broke through locked doors and locked minds to share forgiveness and peace and resurrection to his stuck in what they had done disciples.

St. Paul preached this theme when he talked about the unfathomable, inscrutable riches of Christ. [Cf. Ephesians 3:8.]

CONCLUSION

When you stand under the shower, make it a morning or a night prayer - being washed - and having the Spirit of God baptizing and rebaptizing you each morning or each night. Take a rosary and use the 59 beads to simply say, “More, More, More,” on each bead. It’s a 1 minute rosary or “Thanks, Thanks, Thanks”, on each bead and feel God without measure - without a measuring cup - pouring his love on you. Amen. 

NOTES:

[1] Raymond E. Brown, The Anchor Bible, The Gospel According to John, I-XII, Vol 29, page 158