Greetings on this the Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Readings: Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22; Psalm 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23; John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
Summary
When the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.” (JN 7:27).
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.” (Jn 7:28-29).
The wicked rely upon a very narrow understanding of the Priesthood of Melchizedek whom we know nothing of his ancestry, birth, or death. They assumed that the Messiah would be just as unknown ancestry and birth. Yet, we do know. He is King of Salem (Hebrew word for Peace, also alternate name for Jerusalem). Salem is tent. On Salem is God’s tent, his shelter on Zion (PS 76:3). But the divine logic is to be known. In a very sensate and sensible way to be known.
Jesus’ dialog helps us know his divinity as knowable. As in Psalm 76, Jesus is the Tabernacle of the Father. Rejecting Jesus is a function of the logic of the wicked. Not a judgmental statement. Falling into the logic is a pitiable situation.
Reflection
The logic of the wicked is encapsulated not so much by WHAT they do as WHY they do what they do. The Lament of Evil in the Book of Wisdom sums it perfectly in the first verse.
For, not thinking rightly, they said among themselves: “Brief and troubled is our lifetime; there is no remedy for our dying [the WHY], nor is anyone known to have come back from Hades. Come, therefore, let us … [the WHAT] (Wis 2:1, 6).
For the wicked, death has no remedy. Misery has no remedy except doing all the things we can to please ourselves as the lament continued.
Let Us (in our despair… in our unbelief… in our sense of isolation and insignificance)
- Let us have our fill of costly wine and perfumes.
- Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds.
- Let no meadow be free from our wantonness.
- Let us oppress the righteous poor.
- Let our strength be our norm of righteousness.
- Let us lie in wait for the righteous one, because he is annoying to us.
- Let us put him to the test.
- Let us condemn him to a shameful death.
These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them (Wis 2:21).
Our psalmist paints a far different picture. The Lord is knowable in the 34th Psalm.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted (PS 34:19a).
Divine Care (from the psalm)
- The LORD confronts the evildoer.
- When the just cry out, the LORD hears them.
- From all their distress he rescues them.
- The LORD is close to the brokenhearted.
- Those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
- Out of [trouble] all the LORD delivers him.
- He watches over all his bones.
- The LORD redeems the lives of his servants.
Personal Reflection
You know me and also know where I am from (Jn 7:28).
Yes, Lord Jesus, I do know. And I refuse to fall into the trap of the wicked despair, unbelief and feeling of insignificance.
Your very appearance at the Feast of the Tabernacles reminds us you journey with us throughout the course of our life, our personal Exodus to the Promised Land and the Eternal HIlls. The Psalmist reminds us of the loving care you have for us. And that you will rescue us from the grave on our last day. Jesus, the ‘I AM’ of the Father, gives us a portion of his significance to be enjoyed together as family.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040425.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry