Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Wednesday of Holy Week

(Isaiah 50:4-9a; Matthew 26:14-25)

Unfortunately our gospel translation omits a word that is in the original Greek manuscripts.  The passage should begin with the word Then.  “Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot…”  This time notation indicates a critical moment in the lives of both Jesus and Judas. 

Jesus has just been anointed by an unknown woman with expensive ointment.  His disciples complain about the waste of money that might have been given to the poor.  But Jesus tells them that there are times when significant outlays of money are justified.  Such a time is burial of the dead for which the woman anointed Jesus.  At the same moment then Judas goes seeking money from the chief priests.  For thirty pieces of silver he will deliver Jesus into their hands.  Actually it is a small amount – the equivalent of paying a hitman approximately $50 for committing murder.  For some other reason Judas must want Jesus out of the way.  Unlike Jesus he does not know the value of things.

A recent statement by Pope emeritus Benedict indicates the value of something that is frequently overlooked today.  The statement was issued to show how the sexual revolution and the deterioration of moral theology gave rise to sexual abuse of children.  In the statement Benedict emphasizes the value of faith.  He says that our Christian faith must be protected.  In the context of sexual abuse this means that the rights of an accused priest must not be exaggerated to the extent that faith in Christ and his Church is jeopardized.  In a larger context it means that we proclaim the priority of faith when contemporaries treat it as superstition or personal preference.  Faith in Jesus gives human life a solid meaning.  It assures the presence of love among persons and nations.  It gives everyone – from the poorest beggar to the wealthiest king – hope for eternal life.

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Tuesday of Holy Week

(Isaiah 49:1-6; John 13:21-33.36-38)

On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday of Holy Week one of the four Servant Songs of Isaiah is read during the liturgy.  These passages point to a personage whose suffering saves Israel from its sins.  The servant acts like the firefighters of 9-11 who gave their lives rescuing trapped victims in the burning Trade Center. In today’s reading the Servant himself outlines the accomplishment of his efforts.  He says that not only have they brought Israel back to the Lord but are seen as a model for all nations.

The Suffering Servant is never named in Isaiah.  Some have thought him to be Moses or the prophet Jeremiah. Most Old Testament scholars today identify the servant as the collective people of Israel who have suffered atrocities like the Holocaust.  Nevertheless, Christians from the beginning have heard the Servant Songs as prophetic testimony to Jesus.  Although limiting his mission to Israel, Jesus’ suffering and death have redeemed the sins of the world.

The Servant Songs help us to link Christians with Jews and all peoples. God brought about human salvation through the people of Israel.  They gave birth and context to His Son whose life and teachings model human perfection.  Even more impressively, his gift of self in the brutal crucifixion manifested God’s love for the world.  Most critically, his resurrection unleashed the Holy Spirit to renew the world in that love.

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Monday, April 15, 2019

Monday of Holy Week

(Isaiah 42:1-7; John 12:1-11)

In Luke’s gospel Mary sits as Jesus’ feet when he comes to her and Martha’s home.  She listens to him teach.  In today’s passage from John’s gospel Mary is again at Jesus’ feet in her home.  But her role has changed.  She now anoints Jesus for burial.  Martha in both gospel scenes busies herself with service, and Mary in both chooses “the better part.”

Mary has the prophetic insight of realizing that Jesus will be dead soon.  Because she also knows that he is the royal Messiah or “anointed one,” she gives him a lavish anointing.  The narrator says that the fragrance from the oil filled the whole house.  The image might be expanded to say that the fragrance filled the universe.  The death Jesus is about to undergo will redeem humanity for all its sins.

We too might anoint Jesus in a sense.  We can spare some time daily this week to meditate on the meaning for ourselves of Jesus death and resurrection.  Through these events we know the Son of God.  By these events we are freed from the guilt of our malicious acts.  Because of these events we like Jesus are destined to glory.

Friday, April 12, 2019

Friday of the Fifth Week in Lent

(Jeremiah 20:10-13; John 10:31-42)

                   

A television drama many years ago featured two angels – a good one and a bad one.  In the drama they were known as Mr. White and Mr. Black.  The people of the place where the two angels came could not distinguish who was the good angel.  So they concocted a test to tell which of the angels was the good one by having them sit down and stare at each other.  The angel who first turned away his face would be considered the inferior, and thus bad, angel.  The staring match went on for hours with neither angels flinching.  Then a small child slipped away from her mother and was going to enter into the electric gaze of the two angels.  Mr. Black suddenly got up to save the child from destruction.  Mr. White was declared to be the good angel until someone objected.  “Wasn’t really Mr. Black the good angel,” the person reasoned, “for saving the child from electrocution?”  Of course, he was, and Mr. Black became the hero whom the people followed. 

In today’s gospel Jesus similarly asks to be judged not by the people’s prejudices but by his works.  Has he not healed the sick and judged justly?  Isn’t he worthy of being called “the Son of God”?  Of course, he is.

And so are we worthy when we regularly assist the needy and help the poor.  We cannot consider ourselves sons or daughters as Jesus is the only begotten Son of God.  We are born into a sinful condition and sometimes falter in our good efforts.  Nevertheless, through the sacraments especially of Baptism, Eucharist, and Penance we are only made like Jesus.

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent

(Genesis 17:3-9; John 8:51-59)

Much of the Gospel of John makes most sense when read as representing the struggle between Christians and Jews in the latter part of first century Palestine.  Christians by then have been ejected from Jewish synagogues because they have accepted Jesus as the Messiah.  Jesus, of course, takes their role in the gospel, and “the Jews” represent their persecutors. 

In today’s passage Jesus expresses the Christian belief in eternal life for those who believe in him.  This belief has been given substantial basis in his resurrection.  But the Jews do not accept the fact and claim that Jesus – really Christians – is possessed.  Their argument is that Jesus is surely no greater than Abraham who died.  But Christians see the prophecy which God made to Abraham in today’s first reading fulfilled in Jesus.  They find the success of Christianity in spreading throughout the known world as evidence that Abraham has come to be “the father of a host of nations.”   The heated debate grows hotter as Jesus hints at his divinity by saying of himself, “I AM,” which is code for God.  It is unlikely that he ever made this claim, but Christians have come to know him in this way after the resurrection.  For Jews anyone who claims to be God is committing blasphemy and merits death by stoning.

Although once in a while we see Christians, not Jews, wanting to take up the old debate, it is dead and should be left alone.  Christians and Jews have much in common and should dialogue for mutual edification.  But there are others who resent Christianity today.  Radical Muslims have persecuted Christians as infidels.  Some Western secularists also find Christianity a threat to rational investigation.  They believe the Catholic Church must be taken down because of its influence on vast numbers of people.   There is much to lament in the history of the Church but much, much more to appreciate and praise.  At our best we defend the Church in truth.  This means that we admit egregious errors have been made in the name of Christ.  We also note the many saints and ordinary Christians who have made the world a better place.