Word to the Wise
Tuesday, March 20, 2018 - 5th Week of Lent - Tues
[Num 21:4-9 and John 8:21-30]So Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I saw only what the Father taught me. The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone,because I always do what is pleasing to him." Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him. [John]
The feast of St. Joseph fell on the Monday of the fifth week of Lent, which meant that the gospel scripture for that day was "bumped." That scripture was the encounter between Jesus, a woman caught in adultery, and a lynch mob. This incident serves as the "platform" for the dialog between Jesus and the Pharisees in chapter eight of the Gospel According to John. I recommend reading that entire chapter to get a sense of what is happening. One of Jesus' statements in yesterday's gospel sets up all that went before and all that comes after: "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
The first scripture for today from Numbers, should send us back to chapter three and the dialog with Nicodemus. "And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." In today's gospel, the theme of being "lifted up" (which refers to Jesus' death and moment of glorification) is repeated. The connection with Moses is also present when Jesus uses the words, "I AM," which were the words that God used in the burning bush in Exodus 3 when Moses asked God, "What is your name." This may seem complicated and too rich to digest, but the effort is worthwhile. The dialog between Jesus and the Pharisees in chapter eight is between slave and free, light and darkness, what is above and what is below - all of this points to Jesus as the one whom God has sent, but also to Jesus' own divine identity in saying, "I AM." If we go back to the Prologue to this gospel, we will find these themes announced and then see how they are repeated.
The gospel for today ends with these words, "Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him." We are similarly challenged to believe that Jesus is the one whom God has sent. He is the one who says, "I AM." He challenges us to know the truth that will set us free. AMEN
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