The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to openness to the Spirit that invites us to a deeper understanding of the nature of our life journey in trust, hope and love.
The reading from the Prophet Isaiah celebrates Zion’s Children to be brought home.
* [49:8] You: the individual is not named; perhaps Cyrus or the prophet.
* [49:12] Syene: now called Aswan, at the first cataract of the Nile in southern Egypt. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 49, n.d.)
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. (Psalms, PSALM 145, n.d.)
The Gospel of John declares the authority of the Son and presents witnesses to Jesus.
* [5:17] Sabbath observance (10) was based on God’s resting on the seventh day (cf. Gn 2:2–3; Ex 20:11). Philo and some rabbis insisted that God’s providence remains active on the sabbath, keeping all things in existence, giving life in birth and taking it away in death. Other rabbis taught that God rested from creating, but not from judging (=ruling, governing). Jesus here claims the same authority to work as the Father, and, in the discourse that follows, the same divine prerogatives: power over life and death (Jn 5:21, 24–26) and judgment (Jn 5:22, 27).
* [5:19] This proverb or parable is taken from apprenticeship in a trade: the activity of a son is modeled on that of his father. Jesus’ dependence on the Father is justification for doing what the Father does.
* [5:21] Gives life: in the Old Testament, a divine prerogative (Dt 32:39; 1 Sm 2:6; 2 Kgs 5:7; Tb 13:2; Is 26:19; Dn 12:2).
* [5:22] Judgment: another divine prerogative, often expressed as acquittal or condemnation (Dt 32:36; Ps 43:1).
* [5:28–29] While Jn 5:19–27 present realized eschatology, Jn 5:28–29 are future eschatology; cf. Dn 12:2. (John, CHAPTER 5, n.d.)
Jay Carney comments that the Nigerian Jesuit Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator once defined theology as “faith seeking understanding, love, and hope.” Today’s readings really bring home that last element, namely the importance of hope in the midst of darkness, suffering, and death.
Lent itself is a season of purgation, fasting, and putting to death that which keeps us from embracing the abundant life that God freely offers in Jesus Christ. Thankfully, we are not yet in our literal tombs. But in some way, all of us are being called from death to life during this Lenten season. With two weeks remaining until the Holy Triduum, what am I being called to cast off? What new life is Jesus offering me? (Carney, 2023)
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) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Psalm 145:8-9, 13-14, 17-18 comments that the prophet Isaiah announces all the blessings that God has in store for his people. And yet even in the face of these promises, the people cry out, “The Lord has forsaken me” (Isaiah 49:14). But can the God who loves us so much truly forget us? Let’s find the answer as we pray with today’s responsorial psalm.
The Lord is gracious and merciful (Psalm 145:8).
The Lord is good to all and compassionate (Psalm 145:9).
The Lord lifts up all who are falling (Psalm 145:14).
The Lord is just in all his ways (Psalm 145:17).
The Lord is near to all who call upon him (Psalm 145:18).
“Gracious God, help me to hold fast to you even in the hard times!” (Meditation on Psalm 145:8-9, 13-14, 17-18, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler discusses the consolation offered to the exiles in Babylon by the passage from Deutero-Isaiah. The Hebrew Testament recognizes God as Truth (emet) and more faithful to the Covenant than a mother to her child. Friar Jude notes the realized and future eschatology expressed in the Gospel of John.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Psychotherapist Fiona Gardner who describes the idea of having a childlike or “beginner’s mind” in Eastern spirituality. Zen monk Shunryū Suzuki (1904–1971) helped popularize Buddhism in the United States, and taught about “beginner’s mind”.
In the beginner’s mind there is no thought, “I have attained something.” All self-centered thoughts limit our vast mind. When we have no thought of achievement, no thought of self, we are true beginners. Then we can really learn something. The beginner’s mind is the mind of compassion. When our mind is compassionate, it is boundless. Dogen-zenji, the founder of our school, always emphasized how important it is to resume our boundless original mind. Then we are always true to ourselves, in sympathy with all beings, and can actually practice. [2] (Rohr, 2023)
We have our understanding of God the Father through our relationship with Jesus and the nudges of the Spirit to experience faith, hope, and charity.
References
Carney, J. (2023, March 22). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/032223.html
Isaiah, CHAPTER 49. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/49?8
John, CHAPTER 5. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/5?17
Meditation on Psalm 145:8-9, 13-14, 17-18. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/03/22/635728/
Psalms, PSALM 145. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/145?8
Rohr, R. (2023, March 22). Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind — Center for Action and Contemplation. Cac.org. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/zen-mind-beginners-mind-2023-03-22/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=mar22
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