Homily: Fourth Friday of Lent
Fourth Friday of Lent (Jn. 7:1-2, 10, 25-30) “The Father and I Are One”
The controversies around Jesus grow as we read through the Gospel of John and the days tick by in Lent. There are several groups that Jesus was in tension with. If we appreciate the tensions, we understand more fully why his passion unfolded the way it did.
One set of people Jesus was in disagreement with were his disciples. We read about that in the Gospel today. His disciples are pushing him to go to Jerusalem and to preach there. It is as if they are saying, “Your preaching and miracles do no good here in Galilee. You need to do these things in Jerusalem so that you can win over the whole population.” The apostles were growing tired of waiting. Jesus however says that his time has not yet come.
Another group of people who Jesus was in tension with was the general population, the people in the street. Everyone knew that when the Messiah came, he was supposed to appear out of no were. The Messiah’s coming was to be like a scorpion’s sting, a complete surprise. People knew where Jesus came from. They knew his relatives and his hometown. That was why it was hard for them to believe that he was the Messiah.
The third set of people Jesus was at odds with were the religious authorities. At first the Sadducees, priests and Pharisees considered Jesus a nuisance. He broke the Sabbath and advocated things that seemed to be at odds with a strict interpretation of the law.
But then Jesus crossed over a line. He began to say that when he spoke God was speaking. When we hear a religious figure do this today it makes us uncomfortable. If we admit to this, we can empathize with the religious leaders who listened to Jesus’ preaching. Jesus went from being a nuisance to being someone who was blaspheming. He was claiming to be equal to God. The people who heard Jesus say these things had to make a choice to accept him as God’s Son or to reject him.
Reflection Questions:
1. Are there times when I want Jesus to prove that he is God? How would this make life easier?
2. Have I heard someone claim to speak for God? How did I feel about them?
Dear Parishioners,
Remember that on Monday April 3rd we will be having our communal reconciliation Service. There also are opportunities to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Catholics used to speak of Easter duty. Church members were expected to receive the sacraments at least once during the year. When we think of receiving communion once during the course of a year in our modern world that seems strange to us. But if we never receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation that seems all right. Why is that so?
There are two sacraments that we can regularly receive which are Eucharist and Reconciliation. Both are important. Both sacraments are an opportunity to receive God’s grace. Why wouldn’t we want to have that?
May Our Lady Pray for all those who are about to receive Easter Sacraments,
Fr. Mark