Every time we entrust our fear to God, and strive to overcome the forces of division and isolation through acts of mercy, we fully live the Grace we received at our Baptism. This Grace is stronger than the chaos we experience both within ourselves and in the world around us.
A kingdom has some features. Most significantly, it has a king, some subjects, a territory, and laws and regulations to govern. In the case of the kingdom of God, we know clearly that Christ is the king. His territory is the whole universe and is not limited to the divisions on the face of the earth drawn by people. What we need to do to belong to his kingdom is to live by the laws of his kingdom, which most predominantly is love. He enlists into his kingdom those who are willing to DIE FOR LOVE.
During Holy Week, we too, far from being holy, want to stand at the foot of the Cross with the un-haloed centurion and fix our eyes on Jesus. We too, like him, desire to discover God’s presence and mercy in the darkest corners of our hearts and of our world. And by doing so, step-by-step, as Mark taught us and as the catechumens have done in their journey toward baptism, we will enter Christ’s Resurrection.
Crucifixion was a punishment given to them by the governor. In contrast, that voluntary decision made by Jesus to undertake the suffering is what made it salvific. For suffering to become salvific, it must be voluntary and for love!
The passage today includes what is known as the golden verse in the Bible. The whole plan of redemption is summed up in John 3:16—God so loved the world as to give up his son to redeem humanity, to give us eternal life!
This reflection explores Jesus’s cleansing of the temple during Passover, emphasizing its symbolic significance and connection to the sanctity of the human body. We will also look at the parallel concepts of the temple and body in various religious traditions and Jesus’s caution regarding those who seek miracles. Ultimately, it calls us to deepen our faith beyond seeking wonders and embrace the values of love, compassion, forgiveness, and mercy inherent in the Kingdom of God.
Why is it that on the second Sunday of Lent, the Church wants us to reflect on the transfiguration of Jesus? What happened on the top of that mountain was to strengthen the faith of the disciples who were about to face the scandalous death of their master on the cross. Like the three disciples, we also have to descend from that mountain, face our challenges and trials, and be transformed by God’s unfathomable love.
His last temptation was to take revenge! Jesus could have made a claim on the cross to the soldiers and his persecutors, “I will teach you all a lesson when in three days I rise again.” Most stories of our days end in such successful vengeances! He prevailed over anger and vengeance in that last temptation too. He is the ultimate winner!
Reflect, today, upon this leper. Try to understand his isolation and loss. Try to understand his humility and faith. And seek to imitate the way that he comes to our Lord. Do not be afraid to humble yourself before God as you acknowledge the sins and other needs you have….He will not let you down.
Jesus begins a journey, breaching that early attempt at domesticating his spirit to the frames of the expectation of the people, to the ends of the world. He continues, traversing times, caring, healing, and transforming the mindset of people, even today.