Word to the Wise
Friday, March 23, 2012 - 4th Week of Lent - Fri
[Wis 2:1a, 12-22 and John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30]The wicked said among themselves, thinking not aright: Let us beset the just one because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings...
It is no small wonder that the early Christian community would have turned to today's passage from Wisdom to help them understand what happened to Jesus and why. In fact, the words describe the psychological process that often culminates in the assassination of many great prophetic heroes. The role of a prophet is to hold up a mirror to society and ask if what is seen is in keeping with what the society professes to be. When the image is not in keeping with what God has commanded, the prophet must denounce the aberrant behavior and call the society to return to the right path. This denunciation will inevitably cause resentment and hatred. The names of Archbishop Oscar Romero, the Maryknoll Sisters and the Jesuits in El Salvador, Martin Luther King, Jr, and many others can come to mind. In today's gospel, we can see the process at work.
Jesus' preaching arouses the hatred and resentment of the religious authorities in Jerusalem. The ever-dramatic Gospel of John is building toward the "hour" in which Jesus will be "lifted up" and "glorified," so the antagonists must bide their time iin arranging for what will become, in effect, judicial assassination. The power of this drama is demonstrated in the words of the Book of Wisdom, which transcend any time and place and implicate us all in the process. When I hear the intensity of the anger with which some people express their political opinions, I sometimes feel compelled to warn that the line between control and assassination or lynching can be crossed and tragedy result. As we watch the events of Holy Week draw near, we may find ourselves in the crowd. How are we going to feel about this preacher who can threaten us with his words? AMEN
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