Friday of the
Fourth Week in Lent
(Wisdom 2:1a.12-22; John 7:1-2,10.25-30)
Today’s readings tell of rejection. In the first, wicked men reject one of their
comrades because they take his virtue as an indictment of their vices. The writer of Book of Wisdom did not have
Jesus in mind. But the characterization
fits the conflictual relationship between over-zealous Pharisees and
Jesus. The gospel shows the inhabitants
of Jerusalem rejecting the possibility of Jesus being the long-awaited Christ
or Messiah. His actions conform to what
is expected of the Messiah.
Nevertheless, they dismiss the idea because they think they know his
origins.
The episode indicates the challenge to early Christianity
of why believe in Jesus. After all, he
did not demonstrate his authority with grand displays of power. He certainly did not supplant the Roman
rule. One counter-argument is suggested
in today’s gospel. Although Jesus was
born among common folk, he has heavenly origins which the people could not possibly
see. The first reading intimates another
reason for belief. The Jewish leadership
was too proud to recognize their sins and to see in Jesus the authentic
teaching of God.
We too have to ask ourselves why believe in Jesus. We do not want to reject him nor do we want our
faith based only in custom or only on the arguments that were advanced to us as
children. We should find an answer in
Jesus’ self-sacrificing love. Unlike
even Socrates, he was completely innocent of all crime. Yet he submitted himself to one of the
cruelest forms of punishment ever invented.
Jesus showed himself as God by dying out of love for us. His resurrection after three days, although
not seen by the population at large, confirms for us his Lordship.
