Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
(Genesis 17:3-9; John 8:51-59)
The charismatic heretic of the fourth century Arius had the same problem which vexes the Jews in today’s gospel. If God is infinite – he argued – than he could not become incarnate in a singular subject. This, he claimed, would be like putting a mountain into a box. Therefore, he concluded, Jesus must have been created like all other beings and then raised to divine status by God’s indulgence. In the gospel reading the Jews critique Jesus as coming to a similar erroneous conclusion when he claims, “Before Abraham came to be, I AM.” In another words, according to the Jews, Jesus is identifying himself with the eternal “I AM” when he is obviously a creature born in time.
The mystery of the incarnation was enlightened by the genius of St. Athanasius, a contemporary of Arius. Athanasius taught that God is completely unknowable. We have glimpses of who God is through Jesus, but His nature is still beyond our understanding. If God were only infinite, then Arius would be right – there would be no box or man that could contain Him. But it is only because God who is far beyond human intelligence has revealed it that we can say He became human. Still how this happens is beyond human reckoning.
Athanasius gave us another proposition that is also beyond our comprehension. He said that God became human so that humans may become like God. Looking about us or in us, this seems impossible although the saints provide a glimmer of hope. The Easter mystery provided the grace for the saints to become holy. It will likewise help us to become like God.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Lent
(Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; John 8:31-42)
In a movie about the revolution in Nicaragua, a peasant boy tells an American helicopter pilot that he wants to fly. The airman takes the boy for a ride in his helicopter, but the flight does not satisfy the boy’s desire. He explains that he wants to fly like a bird flies, not to be just transported in a flying machine.
The story illustrates the lesson that Jesus gives in the gospel today. The Jews think they are free because they are not slaves of anyone. But this is very limited freedom. Jesus would provide them full freedom where they could not only walk wherever they wish but act as righteously as they deeply desire. It is the freedom of Yoyo Ma on the cello or Venus Williams on the tennis court.
As Jesus says, freedom comes from accepting him as God’s Son. He brings the rule of life that disengages us from attachments to fortune, fame, and force and sets our sights on eternal life. He accomplishes this by sending us the Holy Spirit. The grace of the Holy Spirit is what the coming Easter season is all about.
(Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; John 8:31-42)
In a movie about the revolution in Nicaragua, a peasant boy tells an American helicopter pilot that he wants to fly. The airman takes the boy for a ride in his helicopter, but the flight does not satisfy the boy’s desire. He explains that he wants to fly like a bird flies, not to be just transported in a flying machine.
The story illustrates the lesson that Jesus gives in the gospel today. The Jews think they are free because they are not slaves of anyone. But this is very limited freedom. Jesus would provide them full freedom where they could not only walk wherever they wish but act as righteously as they deeply desire. It is the freedom of Yoyo Ma on the cello or Venus Williams on the tennis court.
As Jesus says, freedom comes from accepting him as God’s Son. He brings the rule of life that disengages us from attachments to fortune, fame, and force and sets our sights on eternal life. He accomplishes this by sending us the Holy Spirit. The grace of the Holy Spirit is what the coming Easter season is all about.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Lent
(Numbers 21:4-9; John 8:21-30)
Emily Dickinson is certainly one of America’s greatest poets. Her story is remarkable since during her lifetime less than one percent of her poems were published, and these often edited to fit nineteenth century sensibilities. Only after her death was her genius recognized. It is something like Jesus saying in the gospel today that only when he is lifted up to die, the people will finally recognize who he is.
Jesus has been in debate with the Pharisees. He has told them that he comes from the Father. But they cannot understand what he means because they have chosen to live in darkness. Jesus now tells them that when they lift him up (he means on the cross), they will realize that he is from God. In John’s account of the Passion, this prophecy is realized when a declaration is put on the cross that he is the “king of the Jews.” It is written in multiple languages so that the whole world may understand. The title admittedly has less impact today than in Jerusalem around 33 A.D. Then it means that he is God’s favored son, if not God himself.
We recognize Jesus as Lord, but at times we want to step out of the light and into the darkness. Instead of following Jesus, we desire pleasure, prestige, or power. In any case, it would be a poor choice since it means surrendering the glory of Jesus’ second lifting up. We would be trading away our resurrection from the dead.
(Numbers 21:4-9; John 8:21-30)
Emily Dickinson is certainly one of America’s greatest poets. Her story is remarkable since during her lifetime less than one percent of her poems were published, and these often edited to fit nineteenth century sensibilities. Only after her death was her genius recognized. It is something like Jesus saying in the gospel today that only when he is lifted up to die, the people will finally recognize who he is.
Jesus has been in debate with the Pharisees. He has told them that he comes from the Father. But they cannot understand what he means because they have chosen to live in darkness. Jesus now tells them that when they lift him up (he means on the cross), they will realize that he is from God. In John’s account of the Passion, this prophecy is realized when a declaration is put on the cross that he is the “king of the Jews.” It is written in multiple languages so that the whole world may understand. The title admittedly has less impact today than in Jerusalem around 33 A.D. Then it means that he is God’s favored son, if not God himself.
We recognize Jesus as Lord, but at times we want to step out of the light and into the darkness. Instead of following Jesus, we desire pleasure, prestige, or power. In any case, it would be a poor choice since it means surrendering the glory of Jesus’ second lifting up. We would be trading away our resurrection from the dead.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
(Isaiah 7:10-14.8:10; Hebrews 10:4-11; Luke 1:26-38)
The Bible asserts the dignity of all humans by noting that the first are created in the image of God. Still human dignity is raised a few notches by the mystery on which the Church meditates today. The feast is called “the Annunciation,” but it might as well be named “the Incarnation” since it celebrates the eternal Son of God being enfleshed in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
There are myths of gods taking human form in other religions. But what makes Jesus Christ so different is, curiously, his ordinariness. Yes, being born of a virgin is unique, and on occasion Jesus exhibits marvelous power over nature. But the gospels -- unlike stories of other god-men -- lack fantastic episodes of Jesus repelling arrows and slaying armies. Even Jesus’ cures and certainly his mode of operation are like those of other Jewish prophets and rabbis.
It is the chain of events at the very end of his life that manifestly separates Jesus from everyone else. He surrenders himself to be humiliated, tortured, and executed even though he is totally innocent. Then he is raised from the dead as validation that his self-sacrifice is neither fatalistic nor quixotic but ordained from above. It demonstrates God’s plan to elevate humans ever higher than their exalted status in creation. Now we can glimpse our destiny when we join ourselves to Jesus. We will share in his resurrection from the dead and in his eternal life.
(Isaiah 7:10-14.8:10; Hebrews 10:4-11; Luke 1:26-38)
The Bible asserts the dignity of all humans by noting that the first are created in the image of God. Still human dignity is raised a few notches by the mystery on which the Church meditates today. The feast is called “the Annunciation,” but it might as well be named “the Incarnation” since it celebrates the eternal Son of God being enfleshed in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
There are myths of gods taking human form in other religions. But what makes Jesus Christ so different is, curiously, his ordinariness. Yes, being born of a virgin is unique, and on occasion Jesus exhibits marvelous power over nature. But the gospels -- unlike stories of other god-men -- lack fantastic episodes of Jesus repelling arrows and slaying armies. Even Jesus’ cures and certainly his mode of operation are like those of other Jewish prophets and rabbis.
It is the chain of events at the very end of his life that manifestly separates Jesus from everyone else. He surrenders himself to be humiliated, tortured, and executed even though he is totally innocent. Then he is raised from the dead as validation that his self-sacrifice is neither fatalistic nor quixotic but ordained from above. It demonstrates God’s plan to elevate humans ever higher than their exalted status in creation. Now we can glimpse our destiny when we join ourselves to Jesus. We will share in his resurrection from the dead and in his eternal life.
Friday, February 23, 2012
Friday of the Fourth Week in Lent
(Wisdom 2:1a.12-22; John 7:1-2.10.25-30)
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is credited with having saved the American banking system and hence the world economy from ruin. However, at the same time he is being criticized by both right and left for undermining America’s economy.
Today’s first reading from the Book of Wisdom soberly assures that righteous people like Ben Bernanke 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 the age of the Law, prohibiting Sabbath work, has ended. The upshot of all this is that since the Messiah has now arrived in person, belief in him and not following the Law, leads to salvation. Today’s gospel reading pictures Jewish rulers, threatened by their loss of 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.
(Wisdom 2:1a.12-22; John 7:1-2.10.25-30)
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is credited with having saved the American banking system and hence the world economy from ruin. However, at the same time he is being criticized by both right and left for undermining America’s economy.
Today’s first reading from the Book of Wisdom soberly assures that righteous people like Ben Bernanke 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 the age of the Law, prohibiting Sabbath work, has ended. The upshot of all this is that since the Messiah has now arrived in person, belief in him and not following the Law, leads to salvation. Today’s gospel reading pictures Jewish rulers, threatened by their loss of 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.
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