Friday of the Second Week of Easter
(Acts 5:34-42; John 6:1-15)
The chapter “The Grand Inquisitor” represents the high point of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s masterpiece The Brothers Karamazov. The story-within-a-story pictures a malevolent Spanish cardinal reproving Jesus for not taking advantage of the ability to provide people with bread in exchange for their subjugation. The tale finds its source in today’s gospel.
Jesus has miraculously fed the people with bread. The symbolic action anticipates the Eucharist where Jesus’ sharing of body and blood will free his followers. It will be a complete liberation. They will never be compelled to accept him for physical sustenance or anything else. Indeed, they will retain the choice to reject him. In the passage Jesus demonstrates this unwillingness to subjugate the people by evading their coming to make him king. They will have to work for their upkeep, but they will do so knowing that God really cares for them dearly.
People often enslave themselves to things like comfort, convenience, and carnal desire. In a distorted world such subjugation may seem worth the price. But we know that Christ’s freedom offers much more. As his followers, it enables us to develop our human potential which transcends itself into eternal life.
Showing posts with label "Grand Inquisitor". Show all posts
Showing posts with label "Grand Inquisitor". Show all posts
Monday, March 8, 2010
Monday of the Third Week in Lent
(II Kings 5:1-15ab; Luke 4:24-30)
Dostoyevsky’s famous “Grand Inquisitor” denies the faith he is entrusted to defend. Because he believes that Christ offered too much freedom, he dismisses Christ’s teaching in order to gain full human allegiance of the people by offering them bread and showing them authority. It is shocking to realize that the inquisitor is a cardinal of the Catholic Church – a priest and probably a bishop.
The story may critique Communism which Dostoyevsky saw on the horizon, but it also warns us of the possibility of our rejecting Christ. We identify ourselves as Christians, but do we accept the Lord’s teaching? Do we support others in humility, or do we “put others down”? Do we use our resources to assist the poor, or do we strive to accumulate as much as possible for ourselves? Do we pray frequently and fervently, or is our prayer limited to the times and places dictated personal habit and social custom?
In the gospel today the people of Jesus’ own town reject him. They cannot accept the fact that he has worked wonders in other places but refuses to do so among them. It is certainly possible that we reject Jesus as well. We would likely do so in the furtive ways indicated above, not by direct action as happened in Nazareth.
(II Kings 5:1-15ab; Luke 4:24-30)
Dostoyevsky’s famous “Grand Inquisitor” denies the faith he is entrusted to defend. Because he believes that Christ offered too much freedom, he dismisses Christ’s teaching in order to gain full human allegiance of the people by offering them bread and showing them authority. It is shocking to realize that the inquisitor is a cardinal of the Catholic Church – a priest and probably a bishop.
The story may critique Communism which Dostoyevsky saw on the horizon, but it also warns us of the possibility of our rejecting Christ. We identify ourselves as Christians, but do we accept the Lord’s teaching? Do we support others in humility, or do we “put others down”? Do we use our resources to assist the poor, or do we strive to accumulate as much as possible for ourselves? Do we pray frequently and fervently, or is our prayer limited to the times and places dictated personal habit and social custom?
In the gospel today the people of Jesus’ own town reject him. They cannot accept the fact that he has worked wonders in other places but refuses to do so among them. It is certainly possible that we reject Jesus as well. We would likely do so in the furtive ways indicated above, not by direct action as happened in Nazareth.
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