Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Homily - 03-18-2008 – Tuesday of Holy Week

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week our first readings at Mass contain Three Oracles from Isaiah the Prophet concerning the Servant of the Lord. An oracle is an utterance that is made or received as authoritative, extremely wise or infallible. In this case these oracles are all three.

The oracle for this Tuesday is about the one who would be called from his birth and given a name that would match his destiny. He would be as a sharp-edged sword. Jacob and Israel would be gathered to him. And even greater than that he would be a light to all nations that the salvation of God would reach to the ends of the earth!

This certainly and without a doubt refers to Jesus, the awaited Messiah: he was certainly called from his mother's womb and given the name Savior, Jesus – that matched his destiny. He was a sharp-edged sword by the Truth that he spoke and the goodness that he lived and insisted upon. Jacob and Israel he would try his best to gather to himself, but much to his dismay, most of the inhabitants of these lands – his own people – would reject him.

And so God his Father proclaimed him to be the "light to all nations" – to the Gentiles, far and wide! Salvation, redemption, forgiveness and mercy are for anyone, everyone who would approach him in faith and ask for it!

We renew the asking that we made at our baptism – we tell him that we gratefully accept the light that he is, and the light that he provides!

Jesus, you are our Savior, and we love you!

In the gospel passage today we read about two of Jesus' own inner circle who – as yet unstrengthened by the events of the death and resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost – promise Jesus one thing but deliver another.

With friends like these, Jesus' enemies must have been delighted!

Judas Iscariot, who thought about nothing but Judas Iscariot was looking forward to making a few denarii by handing over Jesus to the authorities!

Peter, who promises to die for Jesus is told by Jesus that he would deny him three times before morning!

In the presence of Goodness and Truth – the bad get worse and even the good are tested! But even the worst have a chance at salvation until the last breath that they take! They can always turn to Jesus, repent, and be saved!

Hail to you, our King, obedient to the Father; you were led to your crucifixion like a gentle lamb to the slaughter!

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