Friday of the Fourth
Week of Lent
(Wisdom 2:1a.12-22; John 7:1-2.10.25-30)
Few Americans have distinguished themselves more than George
C. Marshall. As Army Chief of Staff
during World War II, he oversaw the Army’s build-up that saved the world from German
and Japanese tyranny. Later as Secretary
of State, he introduced the foreign aid plan that rebuilt the European economy
and assured American prosperity. In
recognition of these efforts Marshall
received the Nobel Peace Prize. Yet
Senator Joe McCarthy attacked Marshall as feeble,
stupid, and responsible for China
turning Communist!
Today’s first reading from the Book of Wisdom soberly
assures us that even the most righteous of people like George Marshall suffer
persecution. Certainly the Gospel of
John portrays Jesus as being so persecuted.
By healing the hopelessly infirm, Jesus shows himself to be sent from
God. By performing such acts on the
Sabbath, he further reveals that a fundamentalist interpretation of the Law is
not God’s plan. The Messiah, God’s
anointed Son, has arrived in person. Following
him, not rigorously interpreting the Law, leads to salvation. The gospel today pictures Jewish rulers, losing
their authority to Jesus, plotting to kill him.
When we pursue what is good, we will sometimes find our
efforts criticized and our intentions misconstrued. It happened to Jesus, and as his followers,
we can expect it to happen to us. But
suffering persecution is no reason to give up doing what is right. We might check our work and question our
motives to assure that they are properly ordered. If they are, then there is reason to stay the
course. After all, Jesus promises the
Kingdom of heaven to those who suffer persecution for the sake of
righteousness.
