HOMILY WEEK 04 05 – Year II

The Threat of the Other

(Wis 2:1-11; Ps 34; Jn 7:1-30)

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“Something there is that does not love a wall; that sends the groundswell under it.”

The readings today invite us to resist evil, believe in Jesus, and get to know him better through prayer.

That quote above from a poem by Robert Frost could, if adapted a little, describe the theme common to both readings: “something there is that dislikes what is good and right, that tries constantly to undermine it.”

The first reading from the Book of Wisdom speaks of “the ungodly who are reasoning unsoundly.” The rest of the reading unfolds their sordid reasoning – their resistance to and resentment towards anyone good and godly, their urge to rid themselves of anyone that is a reproof to their selfish, evil ways, and their plotting to destroy that person. As Rohr puts it in his Lenten reflections, “For some strange reason, fearful humans are threatened by anyone outside of their frame of reference. They are always seen as a threat and must be brought down.”

A bit of sound reasoning can surface the source of that evil intent. From the disobedience of our first parents, false pride, stubborn self-will, the desire to decide for one’s self what is right or wrong, a lust for possessions, prestige, power and control have plagued humanity and wreaked havoc to this day. Persecution of the just by the wicked is often the way of the world, just because they stand for positive values that are contrary to the selfish purposes of the persecutors.

It was thus in the time of Jesus. The Jewish leaders, on the surface, wanted to kill Jesus because he put the law of love above the Sabbath law, and claimed he was God’s son. On a deeper level, one that secretly bothered them even more, Jesus criticized their abuse of money, lust for prestige and abuse of religious power. Those were precisely the same false gods the devil used to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, and that Jesus categorically rejected – money, fame and power.

Where they lusted after pride and power, Jesus taught truthfulness and vulnerability; where they sought prestige and fame, Jesus taught humility and blessing; where they grasped possessions and pleasure, Jesus taught simplicity and sacrifice. He stood before them as a shining example of who they should have been, especially as religious leaders. Fearing to lose their self-serving priorities, no wonder they grimly determined to kill him. More, we know they were also envious and jealous of his popularity, as all the common people started coming to Jesus for a spirituality that healed them instead of a religiosity that oppressed them. Instead of facing their shadow and changing their ways, the religious leaders cast their shadow on the world around them, and that included getting rid of Jesus.

It is significant that Jesus boldly stood in the temple and fearlessly proclaimed who he was and that their problem was that they did not know him. Somehow, their faith in the God of Abraham and the teachings of the Old Testament did not connect with their lives. There is a warning here for us not to fall into that same trap of substituting piety and religiosity, for genuine faith and caring.

The gospel acclamation “No one lives by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” begs our attention, because the best way to avoid falling into the trap of externalism is to get to know Jesus and the Father better, and the Word of God is a sure-fire means of doing that. The more we ponder the Word of God, taking it into our hearts and minds and doing what it asks of us, and the more we waste time in contemplative prayer, allowing the Holy Spirit to penetrate the depths of our being and soul, the more we will know Jesus and have an intimate relationship with him. In turn, the relationship we have with Jesus will be the relationship we have with the Father.

Being deeply grounded in our identity as God’s son or daughter will change us. It will affect what we choose to do with our time and energy. It will influence the way we relate to people and the way in which we speak to them. It will make us more aware of the needs of the poor. And it will give our lives purpose and meaning – because like Jesus, we too have been sent to proclaim the good news of God’s merciful love.

One of the blessings that is emerging out of the recent Coronavirus Covid-19 crisis is the genuine, selfless caring shown by not only front-line medical workers, but also the more hidden role of workers in grocery stores who have become part of the essential services everyone needs in very stressful and risk-filled times. They are to be commended.

To participate in the Eucharist is to receive the humble, unconditional love of our God shared with us by Jesus on the Cross. May our celebration strengthen our faith in Jesus, deepen our appreciation for his Word, and empower us to resist evil and do nothing but good in our world.