The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate the meaning to our daily lives of the realised eschatology in the Gospel today.
Love and Peace today
The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah declares that Zion’s Children are to be brought home.
* [49:8] You: the individual is not named; perhaps Cyrus or the prophet.1
Psalm 145 praises the greatness and the Goodness of God.
* [Psalm 145] A hymn in acrostic form; every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Acrostic poems usually do not develop ideas but consist rather of loosely connected statements. The singer invites all to praise God (Ps 145:1–3, 21). The “works of God” make God present and invite human praise (Ps 145:4–7); they climax in a confession (Ps 145:8–9). God’s mighty acts show forth divine kingship (Ps 145:10–20), a major theme in the literature of early Judaism and in Christianity.2
In the Gospel of John we learn of the authority of the Son.
* [5:28–29] While Jn 5:19–27 present realized eschatology, Jn 5:28–29 are future eschatology; cf. Dn 12:2.3
Andy Alexander, S.J. (in 2005) commented that our struggle is not like that of the religious leaders of Jesus' day. We're not upset that he heals on the sabbath. At some place in our hearts, we all believe Jesus is our Lord and Savior. We believe that when we meet Jesus, we encounter God. Our struggle is that we seem so self-sufficient and busy - so defended and self-protective - that we just don't let Jesus into our hearts. Or, we let him in a little bit, but then there is that last bit of resistance that we are experiencing in Lent.
Let's turn to the Lord today, with renewed desire. Trusting his fidelity and love and mercy, let's ask for a growing freedom and surrender. Let's ask to know and understand the ways we are still "stuck" in un-loving, un-generous, self-centered habits. And let us ask for forgiveness and healing. “The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. The Lord is gracious and merciful.”4
Don Schwager quotes “The wonderful exchange,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Unless the Word of God had first assumed our mortal flesh he could not have died for us. Only in that way was the immortal God able to die and to give life to mortal humans. Therefore, by this double sharing he brought about a wonderful exchange. We made death possible for him, and he made life possible for us." (excerpt from Sermon 218c,1)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Isaiah 49:8-15 suggests that we tend to superimpose our human nature onto God and assume that he would act as we do when we feel that we’ve been wronged—with anger, bitterness, self-pity, or revenge in our hearts. But God doesn’t think or act that way. He isn’t hurt if we ignore him. He doesn’t derive a sense of restitution or satisfaction by watching us suffer. His biggest concern is our well-being—and he always knows what is best for us. As today’s psalm says, “The Lord is good to all” (Psalm 145:9). Not just to the saints, but also to the worst kinds of sinners. He hasn’t forgotten anyone. He is always ready to forgive them and bring them back home to him.
The same goes for you! So take heart in today’s message of redemption. Look for God’s blessings in your life. Can you see the ways that he is trying to draw you closer to him? Even when you fall into sin, remember that he is a Father who loves you and wants to set you on a path toward healing and peace. His goodness is overflowing! “Thank you, Father, for your unending mercy and the promise of your salvation!”6
Friar Jude Winkler notes that the promise that God will lead His people back to their homeland follows one of the songs of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah. The Sadducees of Jesus' time believed God was distant, at the end of the universe. Friar Jude reminds us of the power in the Authority of Jesus from the Father to make us children of God.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares the teaching of Bishop Michael Curry, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, when they worked together on the Reclaiming Jesus project.
The ability to love yourself is intimately related to your capacity to love others. The challenge is creating a life that allows you to fulfill both needs. . . . I’ve seen it happen enough times to be confident in saying it. Perhaps loving others saves us from the confusion, the frustration, and ultimately the neurosis that comes when we try to center the world around ourselves. Or perhaps it allows us to step outside the self enough to see ourselves with some distance, for a better perspective on what’s missing. Or maybe when loving ourselves is hard, practicing loving others strengthens the muscle enough to turn the force inward. . .7 .
The Love that is God is the Way to peace and joy, today. as we journey with the Son.
References
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