Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day;
he saw it and was glad."
A week before Holy Thursday and the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, Jesus reminds us of Abraham's gladness as "he rejoiced to see my day!"
Predictably, the Lord's opponents are baffled by this young man. He cannot be fifty years old but declares he knew Abraham. He may be speaking metaphorically, or in poetry, but it still makes no sense. Nor, for that matter, had they considered Abraham's gladness.
There was certainly privilege in being the Patriarch's descendant. There was ample mention of happiness in the stories of their ancestors; the Pharisees could claim ancient victories as their own; and history boasted of their artistic and intellectual accomplishments. They owned the confident boast that, "We know the One God, and there is no other."
But "gladness" implied a certain satisfaction and neither God nor the Law of Moses were ever satisfied with the people. The prophets were never happy with the crime and corruption they saw in the Temple and the streets of Jerusalem. And besides, joy goes hand in hand with revelry, as when Moses and Joshua discovered the people dancing lewdly around Aaron's golden calves.
No, joy is too risky right now. It wanders into the risque! Later, maybe. When the Romans are gone. When the Messiah destroys all our enemies and rules the world.
In this third millennium, as apocalyptic wars threaten and the economy insanely soars and sinks, as future shock becomes continual distress and even teenagers remember simpler times, we might ask, "Are we happy yet?"
What is Jesus talking about when he says, "Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad?" Glad about what, exactly?
When I told a young fellow I was a hospital chaplain, he asked if it was fun. Astonished by such a question, I replied, "It is good."
There is pleasure in knowing the good and satisfaction in doing it. They might be called joy or gladness and occasionally, fun. Goodness offers a kind of pleasure despite its jealous demands.
There is pleasure in knowing the Lord, for God is good. He is Good, Truth, Beauty, Joy, Justice, and Mercy; and yet God is utter Simplicity. They are all names of God and the same thing. God is one, and knowing the One comes with joy.
This gladness is nothing to boast about. It's hardly to be whispered to one's closest companions. Saint Paul would boast only of knowing the cross of Jesus Christ. It is unalloyed goodness and pure joy. If you know that, you are not far from the kingdom of God.
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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.