Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Lectionary: 249

Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, “This is truly the Prophet.” 

Others said, “This is the Christ.” 

But others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”

The situation in today's gospel should sound familiar to us. The Holy City of Jerusalem is coming apart. The religious authorities have always assured the populace: "We know the truth!" "We know right and wrong!" and "We know the Mind of God!" But they don't know what to make of Jesus and the people know it. 

In 2004, Peter Steinfels authored a book describing the Catholic Church in the United States; he called it, A People Adrift. If "The Changes" following the Second Vatican Council had not confused the laity enough, the priest pedophilia scandal shook the very foundations of our faith and identity.

In 2021 the distress continues as some American Catholic bishops pronounce anathemas on a Roman Catholic president of the United States, and on his Democratic coreligionists in the House, Senate, and Supreme Court. More recently, we have heard that fetal tissue was used in the development of some Covid 19 vaccines and wonder if that's okay. 

If anyone needs more distressing moral/ethical compromises, they can find plenty in entertainment, the market, and in local, state, and federal politics. Our money, still imprinted with "In God we trust," is tainted by arms manufacturing, the abortion industry, and ever-widening gap between the wealthy and the poor. This is the same economic system that enslaved Americans and bought the sacred ancestral land of Native Americans. But we have no choice; we must use it. 

Those familiar with the Bible know the practice of our faith was never simple; our moral principles were never crystal clear, and our leaders have often faked their assurance. 

They also know that we, like Jesus and his fellow prophets, must make our decisions and take our stands. Sometimes the right choice will be like that of the guards in today's gospel. Sent to arrest Jesus, they heard his teaching, witnessed his authority, and thought better of it. They returned to their superiors empty handed and were lambasted for their trouble. Those same guards knew of, and probably witnessed, the loud arguments among their superiors. The people were adrift as the leaders sounded an uncertain trumpet.

Jesus made himself perfectly at home in this troubled confusion. Had not his Father created this dynamic planet where the only thing that remains the same is change? Guided by the infallible Holy Spirit, directed by unerring obedience to the Father, he announced the Kingdom of God by word and deed as he proceeded to Jerusalem and Calvary. 

There was no doubt in his mind how his journey would end. He saw, as everyone saw, his opponents amassing their forces and plotting their violence. He remained faithful in the face of failure. 

As Covid 19 seems to abate, and we discover a new normal in this chastened world, we pray that God's spirit will show us the same narrow way that leads to salvation.