THE SUFFERING SERVANT
Introduction
Men and women who claim to know God a bit and to live consistently as his sons or daughters, are queer and bothersome to unbelievers as well as to those who take their religion as a set of duties or religious rites. There is no place for such eccentrics who go against the current, for their way of life disturbs the established ways of society. It irritates unbelievers and they want to test the faith of those who trust in God. One has to conform or else… The person who voices his plaints in the Book of Wisdom was one of those annoying people. Jesus was another. What about us?
Reading: Wisdom 2:1A, 12-22
The wicked said among themselves,
thinking not aright:
“Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us;
he sets himself against our doings,
Reproaches us for transgressions of the law
and charges us with violations of our training.
He professes to have knowledge of God
and styles himself a child of the LORD.
To us he is the censure of our thoughts;
merely to see him is a hardship for us,
Because his life is not like that of others,
and different are his ways.
He judges us debased;
he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure.
He calls blest the destiny of the just
and boasts that God is his Father.
Let us see whether his words be true;
let us find out what will happen to him.
For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him
and deliver him from the hand of his foes.
With revilement and torture let us put him to the test
that we may have proof of his gentleness
and try his patience.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death;
for according to his own words, God will take care of him.”
These were their thoughts, but they erred;
for their wickedness blinded them,
and they knew not the hidden counsels of God;
neither did they count on a recompense of holiness
nor discern the innocent souls’ reward.
Responsorial Psalm 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 AND 23
R. (19a) The Lord is close to the broken-hearted.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted.
The LORD is close to the broken-hearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
R. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted.
He watches over all his bones;
not one of them shall be broken.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted.
Verse before the Gospel: Mt 4:4B
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
Gospel: John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
Jesus moved about within Galilee;
he did not wish to travel in Judea,
because the Jews were trying to kill him.
But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.
But when his brothers had gone up to the feast,
he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret.
Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said,
“Is he not the one they are trying to kill?
And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him.
Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ?
But we know where he is from.
When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.”
So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said,
“You know me and also know where I am from.
Yet I did not come on my own,
but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true.
I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.”
So they tried to arrest him,
but no one laid a hand upon him,
because his hour had not yet come.
Commentary:
As the season of Lent moves to its final weeks, we are presented with readings that capture the intensifying conflict between God’s Chosen One and the people who are blinded by their own malice. They wait to pounce on him; but we are told that no one could lay hands on him as his time had not yet come. We easily back out from testifying to the truth and proclaiming the Gospel, because we fear for our lives and other dangerous consequences. How brave would our witnessing to Christ be if we truly believe that until the destined time comes, no one can harm us! And when the destined time comes, nothing would be able to stop us from the way God had willed our return to Him, anyway. This conviction freed Jesus to go on doing the works of the Father. The same awareness can free us as well.
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The historical context of the today’s Gospel is the annual Feast of Tents, which recalls the years when Israel, moving towards the Promised Land, was living in desert tents. A discussion arises about Jesus’ messianic claim when he secretly went up to Jerusalem. A popular opinion stated that the Messiah would come from an unknown location, perhaps someone suddenly falling from sky to perform his mission. However, the birthplace of Jesus is well known thus his being the Messiah was doubted. A shroud of hostility and incomprehension hovers over Christ.
Blessing
Let our lives bear witness to the Lord, who was persecuted and suffered so that we may have forgiveness and life. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!