Friday of the
Fifth Week in Lent
(Jeremiah 20:10-13; John 10:31-42)
Among the gestures made in church we bow to the
altar. Some perhaps think that they are
reverencing the tabernacle which is often placed behind the altar. But the altar itself is a symbol of
Jesus. We bow to him. The gospel today indicates the association.
The setting is the Jewish feast of the dedication of the Temple altar. Jesus came to Jerusalem to
celebrate. His cure of the man born
blind created a controversy among the Jews.
Now he is being besieged. He is
to say whether or not he is the Messiah. He tells the Jews that God has consecrated
him just as He consecrated the Temple altar.
In fact, he implies, he will replace the temple altar as the locus of
true worship.
We see the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy in the
crucifixion. On the cross Jesus offers himself as the perfect sacrifice which
redeems humanity. It makes up not only for
our individual sins but also for the multiplication of guilt oppressing
humanity. As we enter Holy Week, we want
to contemplate the meaning both of Jesus’ sacrifice and of our following him.
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