Thursday, March 26, 2015

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent

(Genesis 17:5-9; John 8:51-59)

In the Gospel of John Jesus is not tried before the Sanhedrin.  Unlike the three other gospels, after being arrested Jesus is given only a brief interrogation by the former high priest Annas. He is then brought to the house of Caiaphas before being delivered to Pilate.  But this is not to say that Jesus is not tried by the Jews in the Gospel of John.  Indeed, he is asked the same kind of questions in passages like today’s gospel that Matthew, Mark, and Luke have him face in the Sanhedrin trial.  John has typically reworked the sayings about Jesus that were handed down in the apostles’ preaching.

“Who do you make yourself to be?” the Jews ask Jesus.  In the Gospel of Mark the high priest asks Jesus a similarly pointed question, “Are you the Messiah, the son of the Blessed One?”  In both cases Jesus answers with the same, “I am,” echoing God’s name for Himself in Exodus.  It is a moment of truth, and Jesus, as he says in the passage, cannot deny that he is God’s Son. 

It is time for us also to give testimony.  Jesus touches our lives every day.  We may not be able to say that we have seen him, but we pray to him.  Invariably, it seems, he saves us from failure and distress.  We can truly say that he is the Son of God.

Wedensday, March 25, 2015

SOLEMNITY OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD

(Isaiah 7:10-14.8:10; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38)

The story of the “Christmas truce of 1914” has been verified by accounts sent home by the soldiers.  It happened that as the First World War became a miserable reality for both sides in the trenches, the Germans made an offer to the British to stop the fighting on Christmas Day.  They sent the message along with a chocolate cake.  The British accepted the offer with a gift of tobacco for the German troops.  Today we take a similar day off in Lent to celebrate the beginnings of Jesus Christ.

It is exactly nine months before Christmas.  Figuring that Jesus had a normal gestation, the Church has consecrated today as the day of his conception.  It proclaims the gospel story of Mary’s acceptance of God’s offer to be the mother of His Son, Jesus.  He will fulfill God’s ancient promise to Israel of a king who will rule forever with peace and prosperity.

We should not hesitate to have a glass of wine today and perhaps a sweet roll with coffee.  But beyond breaking our fast, we do well to relate the significance of this day to our Lenten journey.  The Son of God became human to proclaim God’s love for the world.  Being enmeshed in sin, humans abused the gift and killed him for the Good News.  That story unfolds next week in our celebration of Jesus’ victory over sin and death.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

(Numbers 21:4-9; John 8:21-30)

Pope Francis has become what might be called a "sign of contradiction."  He is the Roman pontiff who stands for belief in God and an ethics of self- sacrifice.  One would expect that the world would reject such an icon out of hand.  But Francis is revered by non-Catholics and Catholics alike.  The Scripture readings today speak of two incidents of other religious "signs of contradiction."

In the first reading God tells Moses to erect a pole with a bronze serpent to heal the Israelites of snake bites.  The image of the very beast that menaced the people becomes the source of their welfare.  In the gospel Jesus says that his being lifted up on the cross in death will become the source of eternal life for those who can look and recognize him as Lord.  

Like Pope Francis we are to become signs of contradiction in the world.  Knowing that we are destined to eternal life, we should share that joy with others and invite them to come and see the goodness of God.

Monday, March 23, 2015

Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

(Daniel 13:1-9.15-17.19-30.33-62 ; John 8:12-20)

The Book of the Prophet Daniel was written in the second century before Christ although its context is sixth century Babylonia.  The author is critiquing his people’s desertion of Judaism for the pagan cult of Palestine’s occupiers.  The abandonment of Jewish Law is portrayed as so perverse that even judges are willing to give false testimony!  However, God comes to the people’s rescue through Daniel.  By saving a woman from the wicked judges’ lies, the young prophet restores virtue to the nation.

In Christians’ eyes Daniel prefigures Christ.  Today’s passage shows Jesus as likewise saving a woman from being stoned to death.  However, his virtue runs even deeper than Daniel’s.  Where Daniel delivered a righteous woman from her persecutors, Jesus treats even a guilty person with mercy.  Those who follow him will strive to show a similar compassion.  Parting from him will only lead down the road to one’s being harshly judged.

We are approaching the commemoration of Jesus' fateful entry into Jerusalem.  We must choose which way we will go.  Will we follow Jesus, the light of the world, to divine mercy?  Or will we trod darker paths to our eventual condemnation? 

Friday, March 20, 2015

Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent

(Wisdom 2:1a.12-22; John 7:1-2.10.25-30)

Few Americans have distinguished themselves more than George C. Marshall.  As Army Chief of Staff during World War II, he oversaw the Army’s build-up that saved the world from German and Japanese tyranny.  Later as Secretary of State, he introduced the foreign aid plan that rebuilt the European economy and assured American prosperity.  In recognition of these efforts Marshall received the Nobel Peace Prize.  Yet Senator Joe McCarthy attacked Marshall as feeble, stupid, and responsible for China turning Communist!

Today’s first reading from the Book of Wisdom soberly assures us that even the most righteous of people like George Marshall 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 a fundamentalist interpretation of the Law is not God’s plan.  The Messiah, God’s anointed Son, has arrived in person.  Following him, not rigorously interpreting the Law, leads to salvation.  The gospel today pictures Jewish rulers, losing their 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.