but no one laid hands on him.
From now on, the Gospel of John will lead us to Easter. Although all four gospels stress the increasing tension and final explosion of violence as Jesus approached and entered Jerusalem, the Fourth Gospel seems to have the deepest insight. The murderous paroxysm that swept through the Holy City and swallowed the Holy One was, in hindsight, unavoidable and necessary. It was a purifying fire which removed the dross from the metallic ore:
For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
Skeptics will always wonder, “Was this really necessary?” Critics will suggest, as Garry Wills did in his recent book Why Priests?, that only a vindictive god of barbaric savages would be satiated by human sacrifice.
But could the United States have been freed of slavery without the Civil War? Moderates on neither side of the Mason-Dixon Line saw it coming. No one expected the war, when it came, to last more than a month or two. They did not think it should cost 700,000 lives, and ravage farms, villages and cities. In retrospect, we wonder how they could not expect its devastation, after "four score and seven years" of failed compromises and futile negotiations.
The Evangelists got it right. Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection are necessary, though we cannot explain exactly why. This is not a chemical process to be analyzed with numbers, formulas and mysterious catalysts. It’s not even as simple as climate change or weather forecasting. There will never be a scientific formula to demonstrate the causes and effects of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Rather, faith insists this sacrifice is unavoidable and necessary -- and beautiful. And we must follow in his steps.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.