Friday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
(Revelation 10:8-11; Luke 19:45-48)
In no other gospel does Jesus act more peaceably than in
Luke. It is true that the Lucan Jesus also
speaks of bringing a fire to the earth and of separating parents from
children. But more generally he acts
with gentleness. Only in Luke does Jesus
heal the servant’s ear in Gethsemane.
Only in Luke does he stop on his way to Calvary to console the women of
Jerusalem. It is typical then of the
Lucan Jesus not to use a whip to drive the merchants from the temple. Indeed, he is typically more concerned about preserving
prayer in the temple than about cleansing it of merchandising.
Also, the Lucan Jesus typically gathers large crowds of
people around himself. They will soon turn
on him by calling for his crucifixion, as many as three times. But in the end they make a second about-face. After seeing him reward the repentant thief
and commend himself to the Father, they beat their breasts in repentance. In today’s gospel the crowds are said to hang
on his words in wonder.
Surely in Jesus there is something to admire. But, of course, we can admire many people. Our
admiration becomes adoration of Jesus because he is different from all the
rest. He spoke with wonder and delivered
himself up to death on behalf of others.
Most of all, he rose from the dead to furnish the promise of what our
souls most desire. He promises us
happiness, not for a moment or even a lifetime, but forever.
