Word to the Wise
Monday, April 18, 2011 - Holy Week - Mon
[Isa 42:1-7 and John 12:1-11]Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my Spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations.......[Isaiah]
The first scriptures for the first three days of Holy Week feature passages from the mysterious SONGS OF THE SUFFERING SERVANT in Isaiah. These "songs" are poetic descriptions of a person who sacrifices all for his people. The early Christian community very soon found in these beautiful poems a prophecy of Jesus' life and death. The series culminates in Good Friday when the eerily accurate poem seems to describe Jesus' suffering and its meaning in tremendously moving detail! One could easily spend a fruitful Holy Week simply meditating on these poems. By featuring these scriptures at this time, the church calls our attention to the broader meaning of Holy Week. Although the "Triduum" is about the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus, the broader picture of Holy Week presents us with a kind of "God's eye" view. The old questions of "Why now?" "Why here?" "Why Jesus?" are still there. I can remember close friends coming to see me in San Antonio on the day that the motion picture, THE PASSION opened and taking me to see it. I came away from the movie very uncomfortable at the spectacle but thinking, "Jesus did that for me?" What happened (past tense) "back then" remains a saving event for me NOW. Isaiah's magnificent poetry places all suffering in perspective along with that of Jesus. We with our own suffering find it hard to imagine our pain as "redemptive." It seems counterintuitive - yet parents experience it all the time. Friends, spouses, active military, those who work with the destitute, etc. - all give their lives for others. To suffer for the sake of another is a difficult thing to do. St, Paul says it well when he says that "what proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners." [Rom. 5:8] Don't miss the opportunity offered by Isaiah today, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week and especially on Good Friday! The meaning of Holy Week will be all richer for that effort to know the Suffering Servant. AMEN