Rejecting righteous

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today identify the rejection that often is directed at those who strive to witness to their relationship with Christ.

Our message to support the good

The reading from the Book of Wisdom describes the “righteous one” who is threatened.

* [2:12–5:23] From 2:12 to 5:23 the author draws heavily on Is 52–62, setting forth his teaching in a series of characters or types taken from Isaiah and embellished with additional details from other texts. The description of the “righteous one” in 2:12–20 seems to undergird the New Testament passion narrative.1 

The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Ps 34:5, 7), can teach the “poor,” those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone.

* [Psalm 34] A thanksgiving in acrostic form, each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this Psalm one letter is missing and two are in reverse order. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Ps 34:5, 7), can teach the “poor,” those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone (Ps 34:4, 12). God will make them powerful (Ps 34:5–11) and give them protection (Ps 34:12–22).2 

In the Gospel from John, Jesus attends the Feast of Tabernacles and engages in dialogue with those intending to reject Him.

* [7:14–31] Jesus teaches in the temple; debate with the Jews.3 

Scott McClure notes that John recounts how Jesus was targeted in his ministry and sought out for arrest for his righteousness.

We are called to be just. We are called to love. We are called to these ideals as mission amidst the scorn, judgment, and ridicule that we receive. Jesus knows what we face when we dedicate our lives to him. He received the same as a fellow human being. As we continue our Lenten journey, let us do so in solidarity with our God who became human and in whom we place our trust. In this way, with this closeness to God, let us see every moment as a God moment.4 

Don Schwager cites Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD).

 "Our Lord had the power to lay down his life and to take it up again. But we cannot choose how long we shall live, and death comes to us even against our will. Christ, by dying, has already overcome death. Our freedom from death comes only through his death. To save us Christ had no need of us. Yet without him we can do nothing. He gave himself to us as the vine to the branches; apart from him we cannot live."5

The Word Among Us Meditation on Wisdom 2:1, 12-22 comments that God’s mysterious ways are at work in our life as well. When we face a challenge or trial, we might be tempted to think it means that God isn’t with us or that he isn’t paying attention to our prayers for help. But more likely than not, he is just moving in ways we can’t perceive at that moment. This is the challenge of faith: to believe that God sees a much bigger picture than we do, and to trust that he knows what he is doing.

One way is to look at the Scriptures. The Old Testament is full of stories of how God’s “hidden counsels” took something evil and turned it around for the good. Think about Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers. God used him to preserve the Israelites during a severe famine (Genesis 37). Or think of Abraham taking his son, Isaac, up the mountain to sacrifice him—at God’s command. God saved Isaac at the very last minute and showed Abraham (and us) just how much he appreciates our faith (22:1-19).
Perhaps you can recall a difficult time in your own life where you now understand how God deepened your faith or brought about an outcome better than you expected. With hindsight, you can see he was clearly at work. Let these insights serve as a foundation for you when challenging events arise in the future.6 

A post by Franciscan Media on Saint Vincent Ferrer, Priest shows the polarization in the Church today is a mild breeze compared with the tornado that ripped the Church apart during the lifetime of this saint. If any saint is a patron of reconciliation, Vincent Ferrer is.

The Western schism divided Christianity first between two, then three, popes. Clement VII lived at Avignon in France, Urban VI in Rome. Vincent was convinced the election of Urban was invalid, though Catherine of Siena was just as devoted a supporter of the Roman pope. In the service of Cardinal de Luna, Vincent worked to persuade Spaniards to follow Clement. When Clement died, Cardinal de Luna was elected at Avignon and became Benedict XIII.7 

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the just person is an indictment on the wicked that shows a way to live in a blessed state. The visits of Jesus and his “cousins” to festivals in Jerusalem in John sets Jesus ministry at 2+ years in duration. Friar Jude reminds that in the Gospel of John, Jesus ‘hour of glory’ is the outpouring of Love on the Cross.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares discussion that Life doesn’t truly end; it simply changes form and continues evolving into ever new shapes and beauty. Philip Simmons wrote that “living at the edge is not so extraordinary as it may sound”.

We all have within us this capacity for wonder, this ability to break the bonds of ordinary awareness and sense that though our lives are fleeting and transitory, we are part of something larger, eternal and unchanging. [1]... The more we live in the Wonder and welcome our placement in this very heart of Love, the easier it is to trust . . . to “release our fears” . . . to live without proclaiming certainties . . . to settle into this very core we can only call Love.8 

The outpouring of Love that marks the life of the righteous is too often foreign to many with whom we seek to be transformed to love as Christ sets the model.

References

1	(n.d.). Wisdom, chapter 2 - usccb. Retrieved April 5, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/wisdom/2
2	(n.d.). psalm 34 - usccb. Retrieved April 5, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/psalms34.htm
3	(n.d.). CHAPTER 7 The Feast of Tabernacles. 1 After this, Jesus moved .... Retrieved April 5, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/john7.htm
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries - Creighton University. Retrieved April 5, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 5, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). Saint Vincent Ferrer, Priest (Optional Memorial) - Mass Readings and .... Retrieved April 5, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/04/05
7	(n.d.). Saint Vincent Ferrer - Franciscan Media. Retrieved April 5, 2019, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-vincent-ferrer/
8	(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archive: April 2019 - Daily Meditations Archives .... Retrieved April 5, 2019, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/2019/04