New creation-Faith-Love

HOMILY LENT WEEK 04 01 – Year II

New Creation through Faith and Love

(Isaiah 65:17-21; Ps 30; Jn 4:43-54)

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How strong is your faith? How deep is your love?

Important questions, these, because today’s liturgy invites us to be part of God’s new creation through faith in Jesus, and love for one another

In the first reading, Isaiah prophesies God will bring about a new creation, a new heaven and a new earth. That new creation will be joy for the Lord.

In the Gospel, we see that new creation coming about in the person and ministry of Jesus – through belief in him and his love for the poor and needy. The royal official is challenged to grow in faith, even as Jesus responds to his request to heal his son out of love and compassion. Because of the partial faith of the official in the Word of Jesus, the miracle happens, and both the official and his household, we are told, believe in Jesus. The royal official’s weeping and concern turns to delight and joy as he discovers his son is healed.

In the movie by Mel Gibson, the Passion of the Christ, there is a poignant scene where Jesus meets his mother as he carries his cross, bloody and beaten. Mary reaches out to him with the words, “I am here” as she gazes with sorrow and compassion on her Son. Jesus responds with one simple yet profound sentence – “See, mother, I make all things new.”

It is a striking scene and statement. A man on the verge of collapse from the weight of the cross and the torture afflicted on him, claiming to be the author of a new creation. Yet we know that is what happened. Through his suffering, death and resurrection, and the gift of his Spirit to the Church at Pentecost, Jesus truly has made everything new. He is bringing about a new heaven and a new earth, the reign of God here and now, for those who believe in him, and love others as he has loved us.

This incident can be a source of encouragement, strength and hope for the world as it struggles with the Coronavirus Covid-19. As devastating and overwhelming as the pandemic seems, God who allowed the crucifixion of his Son Jesus, will undoubtedly draw good out of this catastrophe, and is already doing so in all kinds of surprising ways – people caring for others, encouraging others, front line workers risking their lives to help the sick, researchers collaborating globally to find a cure, clergy putting Eucharist celebrations and homilies on line to reach out to the homebound, etc.

There is another surprising element of newness in the healing of the royal official’s son and that is a radical inclusivity and acceptance in the ministry of Jesus. For a non-Jew of nobility to trust in an itinerant Jewish healer with no formal credentials is certainly a breakthrough into newness. This is also one of the few examples of a non-local healing of a non-Jew in Jesus’ ministry. As Richard Rohr points out, there is no mention whatsoever of any checklist of beliefs, no correct loyalty systems, no asking whether the royal official is in a regular marriage or has made a good confession of his sins. There is only mercy, compassion, inclusion, acceptance and above all healing. It seems rather irresponsible of Jesus, does it not? But does this not also resonate with Pope Francis washing the feet of prisoners, women, even non-Christians on Holy Thursday? Surely there is a message here especially for those who were upset by this action of the pope that is so similar to the indiscriminant healing of Jesus.

Healer: that’s why he came and who he is. In Jesus, divinity and humanity meet. His hands and mouth and his eyes, his whole body becomes a conduit of God’s energy. What’s God’s energy, God’s purpose? To set right a world gone wrong, a suffering world. Out of every pore of his body, Jesus expresses the healing love of God.

Jesus’ ministry of healing expresses in history God’s ultimate intention for the world. In Jesus we see a hint of that world to come where there will be no more suffering, no more sadness, no more sickness.

Today the Church invites us to honor a rather unknown saint, Turibius of Mogrovejo, who was born in Spain about 1538. He was a professor of law when King Philip II appointed him chief judge in the Inquisition of Granada. Later, he was named archbishop of Lima, Peru. In Lima, he was appalled by the attitude of the conquerors. Turibius condemned abuses and provided for the people founding numerous schools, hospitals and churches, and establishing the first seminary in Latin America. What I find especially commendable, having spent some years trying to learn Cree, is that he learned the Indigenous languages. I did that as a priest – amazingly, he did it as an archbishop. Turibius was also an effective teacher and preacher. He died in March 23, 1606 and was canonized in 1726. He is a patron of Latin American bishops.

The Eucharist is a foretaste of that heavenly banquet that is part of the newness that Jesus is bringing about. Even if at present we cannot physically participate in the Eucharist, may our attentiveness to the Word of God empower us to participate in that new heaven and new earth by our faith in Jesus, our openness to newness, and our love for one another.