The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with our experience of needing to trust the guidance of the Spirit in times of persecution and peril.
In the reading from the Prophet Jeremiah, He denounces his persecutors.
* [20:7] You seduced me: Jeremiah accuses the Lord of having deceived him; cf. 15:18. (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 20, n.d.)
Psalm 18 is a Royal Thanksgiving for Victory.
* [Psalm 18] A royal thanksgiving for a military victory, duplicated in 2 Sm 22. Thanksgiving Psalms are in essence reports of divine rescue. The Psalm has two parallel reports of rescue, the first told from a heavenly perspective (Ps 18:5–20), and the second from an earthly perspective (Ps 18:36–46). The first report adapts old mythic language of a cosmic battle between sea and rainstorm in order to depict God’s rescue of the Israelite king from his enemies. Each report has a short hymnic introduction (Ps 18:2–4, 32–36) and conclusion (Ps 18:21–31, 47–50). (Psalms, PSALM 18, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus exhorts us to believe in the works.
* [10:34] This is a reference to the judges of Israel who, since they exercised the divine prerogative to judge (Dt 1:17), were called “gods”; cf. Ex 21:6, besides Ps 82:6 from which the quotation comes.
* [10:36] Consecrated: this may be a reference to the rededicated altar at the Hanukkah feast; see note on Jn 10:22.
* [10:41] Performed no sign: this is to stress the inferior role of John the Baptist. The Transjordan topography recalls the great witness of John the Baptist to Jesus, as opposed to the hostility of the authorities in Jerusalem. (John, CHAPTER 10, n.d.)
Andy Alexander S.J. comments that on this Friday, the week before the Friday we call "Good," we have the invitation to reflect upon the approaching Paschal Mystery.
Jesus came to be among us, as one of us. He was not shielded from the human encounter with suffering. No one can say "He doesn't understand my feelings." He knew rejection, alienation, marginalization, contempt and the deep human struggle with the brokenness of our world, and the faith tradition that was supposed to welcome him. He takes our human experience and redeems it by being in it with us. It is comforting and liberating good news to accept and embrace the fact that we are never alone, in whatever discourages us, causes us grief, defeats us, or leads to death in any way. As we encounter and enter into the drama involved in the story we'll re-celebrate this coming week, we are always aware that "His death is our rising from the dead." (Alexander, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “The sacrifice of Christ,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Even though the man Christ Jesus, in the form of God together with the Father with whom He is one God, accepts our sacrifice, nonetheless He has chosen in the form of a servant to be the sacrifice rather than to accept it. Therefore, He is the priest Himself Who presents the offering, and He Himself is what is offered." (excerpt from City of God, 10,20) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 10:31-42 comments that there was one final “work” that Jesus would perform that would prove beyond all shadow of doubt that he is the Son of God and that he has the Father’s authority. The crowds hadn’t seen it yet, but the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-44) would give them a clue. It is Jesus’ resurrection!
We have the benefit of knowing that Jesus, though crucified, has risen from the dead. But there might be times when that knowledge doesn’t affect our day-to-day attitudes. When we’re going through difficulty, for instance, encouraging words may ring hollow and memories of God’s faithfulness might fade. We struggle to believe. That’s the time to fix our eyes on Jesus’ works, most specifically his resurrection. Because the resurrection is the culmination of all the mighty deeds Jesus performed in his lifetime. It provides the proof that we can hang onto. It can help us to believe.
“Jesus, enflame my faith, not just in the many miracles you performed, but in your own resurrection from the dead. Help me believe that you are Lord and God!” (Meditation on John 10:31-42, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the call of Jeremiah in a lamentation where he calls on the Lord after he is threatened with death by his persecutors. Jesus makes Himself equal with God as He declares I Am! Friar Jude reminds us that some who refuse to see, reject Jesus.
James Finley shares how he brought his powerlessness to Jesus after having been abused by both his father during childhood and later by a priest he trusted. He offers this prayer and blessing for us.
May each of us learn in moments when everything seems lost that our unknown tomorrows will bring yet more perils from which will arise yet more unforeseeable blessings. And that our providential journey through all these experiences is an ongoing dress rehearsal for our approaching death, in which our utter demise will open out upon our eternal fulfillment and liberation. (Finley, 2023)
We have the reassurance of Jesus, through the Spirit, that following the Way in difficult times is the path to fullness of Life.
References
Alexander, A. (2023, March 31). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/033123.html
Finley, J. (2023, March 31). Trusting Jesus with Our Vulnerability — Center for Action and Contemplation. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/trusting-jesus-with-our-vulnerability-2023-03-31/
Jeremiah, CHAPTER 20. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/20?10
John, CHAPTER 10. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/10?31
Meditation on John 10:31-42. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/03/31/641959/
Psalms, PSALM 18. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/18?2
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=mar31
No comments:
Post a Comment