Word to the Wise
Friday, March 7, 2008 - Friday in the Fourth Week of Lent
[Wisdom 2:1A, 12-22 and John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30]"Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the Lord. To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us, because his life is not like that of others, and different are his ways."
To someone who is familiar with the Old Testament and reads the New Testament for the first time (and other times) the life of Jesus seems to "fulfill" or be an exemplar or "type" of figures mentioned in the Old Testament. Of course, the statement is usually presented the opposite way - i.e the Old Testament figures are seen to be "types" for Jesus, as a kind of preparation. Certainly the early Christian community was able to make the connections. The passage from the Book of Wisdom (which was put into writing less than 100 years before Jesus was born) reflects much of what we find in today's gospel where Jesus directly confronts the tension existing between himself and "the Jews." Yet, Wisdom speaks of any righteous person who is confident enough in his/her integrity that he/she will confront others with their lack of integrity. I think all of us would show some resentment and ask, "Just who does he/she think he/she IS?" Indeed the religious authorities whom Jesus confronted had that kind of reaction. It got considerably more dangerous when they realized that the answer of that question pointed in the direction of GOD! The dramatic tension that Wisdom and John portray is not simply an historical moment in the life of Jesus which builds to a climax in the accounts of Jesus' arrest and death. This tension can arise in one's personal relationship with Jesus when we realize that our thoughts and conduct are less than our relationship would demand. We may find ourselves saying, "He is too demanding. His life is a reproach to my own. If I put him out of my life, I will be free at last to do whatever I want without feeling guilty!" This kind of thinking may take over our attitude toward anyone who lives a life of Christian integrity. Like Jesus' persecutors we may think we are doing people a favor by removing the "just one" from the scene. The dramatic tension that arises within us when we examine our lives honestly in the light of Jesus' life can be a healthy goad to a more holy and moral life - a life of integrity. Reacting with rebellion or resentment, or even violently, places us squarely in opposition to God. AMEN
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