Know How to Love Him

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary in the days before the Triduum bring the question of the “Jesus Christ Superstar” production to mind. “I don’t know how to love Him” is a challenge that we encounter in the relationship we are invited to share with the Divine. The ‘suffering servant” of the Book of the prophet Isaiah proclaims that the gift of his relationship with God has been an ear that hears and listens to guidance from Providence. As a result the servant knows the help of God as he becomes a witness in obedience to the will of God. The community who “know” how to relate to God treat the servant shamefully. The psalmist understands becoming a stranger to his family and friends as the ‘zeal for thy house consumed me”. What kind of energy is fuelled by zeal? We may understand zeal as a response to an overwhelming drive within ourselves. When the drive is to “know how to love Him”, our intentions may be well directed but our actions may be more impulsive, rushed, rash and ‘human’ as we attempt to contain the uncontainable. The Beloved understands. Our boasts and bravado and our busy behaviour are human response. We learn and are taught as we listen and live the silent and awe filled wonder of the relationship. Two personalities of these days, Judas and Peter, struggle to love Him. Perhaps Judas loved the “idea” of the Messiah more than the person of Jesus. Maybe he “loved” in a way which would see the great movement survive its founder, who seemed bent on self destruction. Peter loved the man, Jesus, and struggled to understand why he could not protect his friend, with his life, when the Master seemed to be hearing a different drum. Three friends, powerful zeal, imperfect humanity, great love are the elements of one part of the journey to Jerusalem where we “Don’t Know How to Love Him”.