FIRST READING
Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22
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, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD. To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us, Because his life is not like that of others, and different are his ways. He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father. Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.” These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them, and they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls’ reward.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23
R. (19a) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. When the just cry out, the LORD hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. Many are the troubles of the just man, but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
He watches over all his bones; not one of them shall be broken. The LORD redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL
Matthew 4:4b
One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
GOSPEL
John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
Jesus moved about within Galilee;
he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.
But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret.
Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ? But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.
REFLECTIONS:
"To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us. Because his life is not like other men's, and different are his ways." Wisdom 2:14-15
The lives of the just are a bright light and a prophetic witness against the deeds of darkness (Wis 2:12ff). Therefore, "everyone who practices evil hates the light; he does not come near it for fear his deeds will be exposed" (Jn 3:20). Those in the darkness of sin show their hatred for those who are the light of the world (see Mt 5:14) by reviling and torturing them (Wis 2:19). They may even condemn them to a shameful death (Wis 2:20).
During Lent, we try to imitate Jesus in fasting for forty days (see Mt 4:2). As this inspires us to imitate Jesus in other ways, we walk more and more in the light (see 1 Jn 1:7). This means we are a greater irritation to those in darkness and therefore more likely to be persecuted more often and more severely. Therefore, the last days of Lent can be exceptionally difficult.
Two weeks from today is Good Friday, the day on which we especially remember Jesus' saving death. As Jesus neared the first Good Friday, His opponents tried to seize and kill Him (Jn 7:1, 30). Likewise, as you near Good Friday, expect increasing persecution (2 Tm 3:12). If you are "judged worthy of ill-treatment for the sake of the Name" of Jesus, you should rejoice that you are walking in the light more deeply (Acts 5:41). "Happy are you when you are insulted for the sake of Christ, for then God's Spirit in Its glory has come to rest on you" (1 Pt 4:14). "Blest are those persecuted for holiness' sake; the reign of God is theirs" (Mt 5:10).
Prayer: Father, make me worthy of being persecuted more. May I love You so much as to desire to suffer for You. Promise: "He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father." Wis 2:16 Praise: Robert saw the awesome connection between the Mass and Calvary.
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