Tuesday, April 4, 2023

 Tuesday of Holy Week

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

It may sound outrageous to say that Jesus is in control of the process leading to his death.  Nevertheless, John’s gospel clearly indicates this.  Not only does he gather his disciples for an apparently premature farewell meal, but – more critically – he signals the actions resulting in his betrayal and, ultimately, his crucifixion.  In today’s passage Jesus predicts that one of his disciples will betray him, shows whom he is, and then dismisses the betrayer to do what he would do. 

The passage also glimpses the cosmic struggle that will end in Jesus’ paradoxical “triumphal death.”  It says that Satan enters Judas.  Satan is the great adversary, the prince of the world, the one whom the Son of God came to defeat.  “World” here means the consolidation of sin that often characterizes this planet.  Jesus will defeat Satan by allowing himself to be sacrificed in humility.  From then on, pride, greed, even self-preservation will no longer reign over divine love.

We have come to the middle of Holy Week, the most solemn time of the year for Christians.  We are to use it to reflect on our own lives.  Now we not only thank God for sending His Son as our hero and model.  We also ask Him to help us exterminate the vestiges of Satan’s worldly power that cling to us.

Monday, April 3, 2023

 Monday of Holy Week

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

One of the features of Holy Week is the use of the four “Servant Songs” from the second part of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.  They are read at mass today, tomorrow, Wednesday, and Friday, as well as yesterday. The Songs describe one whose suffering brings vicarious justice to Israel.  Because he is never named, interpreters have given him various identities like Jeremiah or even corporate Israel.  Christians have little difficulty in seeing him as an archetype of Jesus.

Today’s “Song” features the gentleness and the luminosity of the Servant.  He is so sensitive that he does not raise his voice when he teaches.  Gently and persuasively, he gives light without creating heat.  That light enables those blinded by pride to see the truth, those imprisoned by prejudice to find goodness in enemies, and those confined to the dungeon of ignorance to learn the glory of God.

In today’s gospel Mary, the sister of Lazarus, exhibits a particular sensitivity to Jesus as the Suffering Servant.  She anoints him before his impending death that she is somehow able to perceive. 

Sunday, , April 2, 2023

PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION

(Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14-27:54)

Fra Angelico included Saint Dominic in many of his paintings. One of his Crucifixion scenes has Dominic grasping the base of the cross. The Lord's blood drips from his hands and chest and spills from his feet as Dominic's eyes look up in adoration. Saint Dominic knows the value of Christ’s blood: the hefty price that Jesus paid to redeem the world from the penalty of their sins.

The blood of Jesus has a central role in the Passion according to Saint Matthew. At the Last Supper Jesus says that the cup of wine that he has blessed is his blood. He then declares that it will be poured out to forgive the sins of all. To take advantage of this offering, people must repent of their sins. That is, they must acknowledge that they have sinned and strive to change their behavior. It sounds simple, but humans, being what they are, have had great difficulty doing it.

In the narrative Pilate tries to wash his hands of the blood of Jesus. He doesn't want to admit that his unwillingness to confront the Jews with the truth will result in the death of an innocent man. Judas admits that he has sinned by betraying Jesus when he returns the thirty pieces of silver. However, instead of asking for Jesus' forgiveness, he hangs himself. The Jews also acknowledge responsibility for the death of Jesus when they say: “May his blood be on us and on our children!” But they give no indication of repentance.

Where are we in all this drama? Are we ready to admit our sins and change our behavior? Have we not been envious like the high priests by wishing bad for those who prove themselves more talented or more fortunate than we? Have we not abandoned Jesus like the disciples in Gethsemane by not praying to him daily? Have we not lied like Peter to avoid difficult situations? And have we not mocked other people like the passers-by and the crucified thieves mock Jesus? For these sins among others we have to ask the Lord's forgiveness.

Only by accepting responsibility for the blood of Jesus and repenting of our sins can we take advantage of what we celebrate this week. Only by asking Jesus’ forgiveness can we be saved from the penalty of our sins.

Friday, March 31, 2023

Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent

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

John completed his gospel at Christians at the end of the first century.  Christians then would necessarily read it somewhat differently than it is read today.  When they read that the Jews were ready to kill Jesus for blaspheming, they would have considered the judgment ironic.  They would have seen the Jews as sacrilegious for trying to kill Jesus.

Likewise, Christians then would have recognized that what Jesus attributes to himself in the passage might be said of them.  Jesus shows the Jews that he is God in two ways.  First, by referring to the psalm (not actually to the Law) which calls people “gods.” Then he recalls the mighty signs of his divinity that he has worked.  By loving their neighbors early Christians performed analogous deeds.

Many in our time do not want to consider themselves “like God”. That is, they do not want to be considered loving and good.  Rather they want to be “cool.”  That is, they want to be singled out for excellence.  We must move contrary to this flow like the fish that break ranks at the opening of an episode of “The Chosen.”  It’s all right.  We know that in being Godlike we do the best for everyone now and are brought closer to Jesus.

Thursday, March 30, 2023

 Thursday of the Fifth Week in Lent

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

It’s ten o’clock on Saturday morning, and your eldest son Bobby is bouncing down the stairs for breakfast.  He has slept through the promise he made his younger brother to take him to soccer practice.  You ask coolly, “Have you had enough sleep, Robert?”   Of course, you are not really concerned about his rest.  Your ironic question makes your son aware that he has failed to do as he said.  The Gospel of John frequently uses irony in such a way.

It is ironic that the Jews in the gospel today say, “Abraham died as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’”  They lack understanding that Jesus is speaking of spiritual life forever with the resurrection of the body at the end of time.

We need not be particularly hard on the Jews in the gospel for not appreciating eternal life.  Its significance escapes most of us.  It is not a continuation of life in this world of joys and sorrows.  Nor is it an ethereal spiritual life as some envisage a colony of ghosts.  Eternal life is new, extraordinary, almost unimaginable.  At the same time, recalling glimpses of the resurrected Jesus, we can say that it is conscious, corporal, and joyous.  We might compare it to hearing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with a chorus 10,000 strong, but it is really beyond our comprehension.  We can only wait in hope to experience it.