Now the Passover of the Jews was near,
and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves.
They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?”
T he Four Gospels have been described as "passion narratives with an extended prologue." Each presents the singular drama of the Lord's approach and arrival in Jerusalem, and of what happened upon his arrival. Read any one of them and you know the plot of the other three. All four describe the city's welcome as disciples or a great crowd wave palm branches and his entourage passes.
In today's reading from John we learn of the city's quandary about Jesus, "Do you think he will come?" While he has created an enormous expectation of his arrival, they know that he has many enemies and perhaps he should not come during the high holy days of the Passover. With the pilgrims crowding the city's Holy Temple, streets, markets, and homes, there is enough tension already in the restive population. Just as Americans like to stage their protests in Washington DC, preferably within sight of the White House or Capital, first century Jews could be expected to discuss the Roman occupation of their holy land and their holy city. Things could get out of hand quickly.
Christians still celebrate and ponder the Lord's coming to Jerusalem. The man knew he was walking into a hornet's nest of trouble, and he knew he could turn back. Should we urge him to go in; or advise him to wait a while until things cool off, until the danger has passed? We might insist, "Now is not the time!"
Isn't that the advice we press upon people who demand respect for their human integrity, dignity, and civil rights? "You're right and I agree with you wholeheartedly. But now is not the time! Let it rest. The arc of the moral universe is long..... Yada, yada, yada....
The Gospel of John has often reminded us of the coming hour and of its significance. It is pressing, urgent, and ineluctable. No one knows the hour of the Lord's second coming except the Father, but Jesus has a clear sense of time's demand that he must be in Jerusalem now. And there is nowhere on earth that he would rather be.
And, as Saint Thomas said, we must go with him.
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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.