The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to ponder how the change of attitude of peoples toward the Jews from Zechariah to Jesus may inform our experience of acceptance and rejection as we journey with Christ.
Acceptance and rejection
The reading from the Prophet Zechariah is a vision of many people drawn to Jerusalem.
“Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”1
Psalm 87 praises the joy of living in Zion.
* [Psalm 87] A song of Zion, like Ps 46; 48; 76; 132. * [87:2] The gates: the city itself, a common Hebrew idiom. * [87:5–6] The bond between the exile and the holy city was so strong as to override the exile’s citizenship of lesser cities.2
In the Gospel of Luke, a Samaritan village refuses to receive Jesus.
* [9:51–55] Just as the Galilean ministry began with a rejection of Jesus in his hometown, so too the travel narrative begins with the rejection of him by Samaritans. In this episode Jesus disassociates himself from the attitude expressed by his disciples that those who reject him are to be punished severely. The story alludes to 2 Kgs 1:10, 12 where the prophet Elijah takes the course of action Jesus rejects, and Jesus thereby rejects the identification of himself with Elijah.3
Jeanne Schuler comments that often, we stick to our own kind and mistrust others. Then something big happens and the walls come down. Drenched in floods or fleeing burning forests, we are strangers no longer. The sight of refugees crammed into cargo ships clutching their children quiets our noisy hearts. Quarrels simmer down as we ask: what can we do? How can I help? Like blessings from above, what divides us fades for a while. To be one with others in trouble drives fear away. Why then do we isolate ourselves?
Faced with attack or insults, we often strike back. The Samaritans closed their town to Jesus and the apostles wanted revenge. “Call down fire from heaven. Let them burn. Let’s get even. We’ll show them.” And another cycle of destruction is unleashed. “Jesus rebuked them.” To seek revenge is venom. It does not secure justice or nurture peace. What grips us in the moment can lead to years of violence. God, show us the way forward. Give us wisdom to escape the sinkhole of revenge. We share this planet with all creatures. I can’t fix things on my own. We are in this together. God, heal old wounds. Please send your spirit. Gather us together in prayer and the work of salvation. Show us where solidarity lies.4
Don Schwager quotes “Jesus gave power and authority to his apostles,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"It would be false to affirm that our Savior did not know what was about to happen, because he knows all things. He knew, of course, that the Samaritans would not receive his messengers. There can be no doubt of this. Why then did he command them to go before him? It was his custom to benefit diligently the holy apostles in every possible way, and because of this, it was his practice sometimes to test them... What was the purpose of this occurrence? He was going up to Jerusalem, as the time of his passion was already drawing near. He was about to endure the scorn of the Jews. He was about to be destroyed by the scribes and Pharisees and to suffer those things that they inflicted upon him when they went to accomplish all of violence and wicked boldness. He did not want them to be offended when they saw him suffering. He also wanted them to be patient and not to complain greatly, although people would treat them rudely. He, so to speak, made the Samaritans' hatred a preparatory exercise in the matter. They had not received the messengers... For their benefit, he rebuked the disciples and gently restrained the sharpness of their wrath, not permitting them to grumble violently against those who sinned. He rather persuaded them to be patient and to cherish a mind that is unmovable by anything like this."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 56)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Zechariah 8:20-23 asks how can we overflow with God’s presence like that? Well, first we have to be filled. So isn’t it wonderful that God wants nothing more than to fill us with his grace and compassion? The filling is God’s work; it’s on us to come to him and receive it. And that’s not as hard as it may seem.
Every time you turn to the Lord, he generously pours his grace into you. When you thank him and worship him, he fills you. When you call to him in your struggles, he fills you. When you go to him for wisdom, he fills you. When you pray for healing, confess your sin, and ask his forgiveness, he fills you. In other words, you can be filled with his grace at any time and in any place when you turn your heart toward him.6
Friar Jude Winkler comments that Zechariah declares that every Jew will have ten pagans eager to join them as they recognize God’s work of restoration in Jerusalem. The Transjordan route to Jerusalem was often chosen by Jews in Jesus' time to avoid Samaria. Friar Jude reminds us of Jesus' mission to reach out to all people including Samaritans and pagans.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares that a compassionate presence is one of the fruits of contemplation. In his book Eager to Love, he writes about the great compassion of St. Francis of Assisi (1182–1226) for others, which is inspired by the great compassion of Jesus. St. Francis and St. Clare (1194–1253) led their communities. They led, not from above, and not even from below, but mostly from within, by walking with their brothers and sisters, or “smelling like the sheep,” as Pope Francis puts it. Catholic author Judy Cannato, who worked to integrate the Gospels with the new cosmology, believed this Great Compassion was Jesus’ primary objective.
The realm of God that Jesus preached and died for was one that was known for its kindness and generosity, its compassion and healing. There was no one deemed outside the love of the Holy One whom Jesus called “Father.” No one was excluded from fellowship, not the rich or poor, male or female, slave or free. Jesus went beyond superficial divisions and called for a culture of compassion. Compassion changes everything. Compassion heals. Compassion mends the broken and restores what has been lost. Compassion draws together those who have been estranged or never even dreamed they were connected. Compassion pulls us out of ourselves and into the heart of another, placing us on holy ground where we instinctively take off our shoes and walk in reverence. Compassion springs out of vulnerability and triumphs in unity. [1]7
We are prompted by the Spirit to counter the separation of people caused by long standing discrimination and indifference through our compassion and solidarity with others suffering trials in life.
References
No comments:
Post a Comment