Scripture Reflections
God's Favorites
"No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." (Jn 15:13)
Today's Gospel invites us to the fullness of life, intimately connected to Jesus Christ the True Vine. To fail to remain closely connected to Jesus the Vine is to wither and die. Jesus tells us that a life lived close to him also becomes the source for a vibrant Gospel witness to the world. However, life "on the vine" is not always so simple. The varieties and kinds of branches, as well as the complexities of issues that Christian communities face, often become occasions for distancing ourselves from the Vine.
Just the other day a good friend of mine was telling me about an Episcopal priest whom he thought was one of the best pastors he had ever met. As an example, my friend, who is a Presbyterian, told me that several years ago he had been attending an Episcopal church fairly regularly and had gotten to know this pastor quite well. His wife attended another church, but one Sunday in July, his wife attended the Episcopal church with him, and on that occasion he introduced her to the pastor. The next time my friend's wife went to church with him was some five months later, on Christmas eve, and she was blown away by the fact that, when she approached the pastor for communion, he unhesitatingly said "Jane, this is the body of Christ!"
The Gospel we are given to hear on this Third Sunday of Easter is from Luke, and follows immediately upon the familiar story of the road to Emmaus. Today's gospel is also familiar, and in this Easter season causes us to ask: "where and how have we encountered the risen Christ?" In the Emmaus story, Jesus is made known to two, in the breaking of the bread. In today's story, Jesus appears to the community gathered together, sharing fish. In what community settings have we met the risen One?
COMING TO FAITH, FINALLY
If there is a danger of anti-climax after the high drama of the Triduum and the sheer relief of the feast of the Resurrection, today's readings should help keep us alert and focused on a critical question: after all is said and done, is our faith in the Risen One now really restored and deepened?
I have no memory. Every Palm Sunday I join the parade of parishioners, waving palm branches and singing "Hosanna" as we process into church. Each year, I am utterly devastated when the Gospel is read. The happy hosannas are drowned in the refrain "Were you there?" and I am reminded again that the way of Jesus is the way of the cross.
The hour has come
We may think that the hour referred to in John's gospel is the hour of Jesus' death. It is, but the author gives that dreaded hour a most unexpected meaning. He claims that the hour of Jesus' death is really the hour of his glorification. Furthermore, Jesus is glorified, not as a martyr, but as the source of new life for us. We hear this so often that we might fail to realize the paradox here: Jesus' death brings us new life.
Just recently I heard a story that is applicable to today's readings. A young man asked for directions. He was told that his destination would be "three sights away." Not understanding what this meant, he asked for an explanation. He was told to look ahead and go as far as his sight could see, that would be "one sight away", then when he got there - look ahead - and that would be two sights and walk there. When he arrived - to look again - that would be three sights ahead and he would reach his destination.
Two powerful and classic scenes from the Bible make up the readings for this third Sunday of Lent. The Gospel reading is the account of Jesus' purification of the Jerusalem temple in the Gospel of John. The Old Testament reading paired with it is God's presentation of the Ten Commandments to Moses at Sinai as recounted in the Book of Exodus. According to the rationale of the Lectionary, the Gospel text is the "anchor" and the Old Testament reading is to be in harmony with the Gospel selection. How does that work out this Sunday?
