Homily Fifth Friday of Lent (John 10:31-42) “What is Worth Dying For?”
Homily Fifth Friday of Lent (John 10:31-42) “What is Worth Dying For?”
As we read the scriptures during these last days of Lent, we get have a sense of great foreboding. The noose, as they say, seems to be tightening around Jesus’ neck. His enemies are closing in and the threats on his life are starting. How did Jesus feel about all this? Why was it happening?
Various theories have been put forth about why Jesus died on the cross. One of the most prominent is that Jesus died on the cross because he was threatening the established order.
It is hard for us to grasp since we live in a society where, in theory, we have the separation of church and state. In the country where Jesus lived the priests at the temple were part of the governing structure. The Romans appointed the high priest and they expected whoever they appointed to be loyal and help keep the peace and collect taxes. During the time of Roman occupation of Israel there were numerous high priests. The Romans believed that if they controlled the local religion it was easier to control the country.
The temple was big business. Faithful Jews came to Jerusalem from all over the Middle East to offer sacrifice at the temple. The city of Jerusalem had a population of around 40,000, but its size would swell to five times that amount on major feasts. The pilgrims needed places to stay, food to eat and sacrifices to offer.
Jesus criticized the leadership of the Jewish faith and he was unhappy that religion had become more of an economic enterprise than a religious one. Jesus was also critical of the way the poor were exploited and oppressed. His preaching was a threat to all those in power.
Jesus’ ministry came to a turning point. We hear how he slipped away from those who wanted to kill him today. The truth is, he could have saved himself. If he would have run away a week before Good Friday, he might have lived. But he refused to give up his fight for justice. Jesus thought there were principles worth dying for.
Reflection Questions:
- Have I ever thought about how Jesus might have saved himself from his execution? Would most people have backed off?
- Do leaders risk everything to defend what is just today or do they just look out for number 1? Who can I think of who has risked everything for a cause?
Dear Parishioners,
The Easter Triduum is coming up fast. We are taking reservations for our services and they are filling up. There are still spots for Holy Thursday and Good Friday, but Easter Masses we are almost at capacity. There is no room at the 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. Mass on Easter There is room at 7 a.m. and at the Easter Vigil.
We will be livestreaming the services. After several of the live- stream services, we will distribute communion in the parking lot. This means after Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the 9 a.m. Mass on Easter morning we will offer communion by the East door of the church or if weather is bad in the church itself. If you cannot attend because we have exceeded our capacity, I would encourage you to watch at home and then you have the option to drive over and receive communion.
It is wonderful that we have so many people that want to attend, but this leads to limited options. We can’t go outside this time of year and have a reverent celebration. Setting up in a gym for an overflow crowd makes no sense. If people are going to watch Mass on a screen they might as well watch from the safety of their own homes. Adding Masses very early in the morning or later in the day would also have limited impact.
We must do the best we can. With infections going back up we want to keep people safe. I ask for your prayers and understanding.
May Our Lady and All the Angels and Saints watch over you today.
Fr. Mark