Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 324

For the sake of the joy that lay before him
Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame,
and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.

 E vel Knievel and his fraternity of stunt performers, qua daredevils, qua entertainers, made death defying into a household term. Some of them did, in fact, die in the performance of their stunts, but that was never the plan. They were entertainers and no normal person wanted to see them die. 

But it's fun to watch them "defy" death with carefully orchestrated, entirely safe stunts. We can't imagine how they do it, and are usually not told the background story of trial, and error. We can suppose there are many scrapped ideas that were found too dangerous, or too difficult to pull off without real risk. 

But the Lord shows what true death defiance is. He "endured the cross, despising its shame," but he was not a daredevil. When he challenged the arrogance of Pharisees, Herodians, scribes and Levites he knew, as any reasonable person would know, that it would cost him in the end. He did not suppose his healing of the sick and raising the dead could be ignored by this world's authorities. When they saw and heard about things he said and did, they felt like they were losing control of a situation that had to be controlled. That would not do. 

They were driven by fear and it was not an unreasonable fear. Rome was built on brute power. It may have had a window dressing of cultural sophistication, reasonable laws, and philosophical principles but the Roman army was never far from any city, town, or hamlet. Upstarts would be dealt with promptly; and order would be restored. 

There was no thought of democracy as a project of educated, principled, and generous citizens who would respect one another's rights and opinions, and agree to govern through a process of endless compromises. Roman officials feared their superiors and threatened their subordinates, and maintained order. Defiance did not lead to early retirement or a golden parachute; defiance meant death and only a fool would risk it. 

When Jesus announced the Kingdom of God and revealed its presence by wonders, healing, and enigmatic parables he challenged the authorities. They could not understand what he was about but they were sure they didn't like it. And that could mean only one thing. When Jesus stood before his accusers and judges he offered no apology for his ministry. He believed in God and embraced God's Kingdom as more real, more substantial, and infinitely more desirable than anything this world could offer. His disciples would do the same wonderful work after he was raised from the dead. 

Jesus believed that his Father governed the universe with both justice and mercy -- a combination impossible to men -- and that his life and death would not be forgotten. Because we find it so unimaginable, we can speculate whether his human mind could comprehend life after death. But the Lord did not question God's fidelity. His word is everlasting and his fidelity to faithful martyrs cannot be doubted. Had not Eleazar, Solomonia, Abim, Antonius, Gurias, Eusebonus, Alimus, and Marcellus -- Old Testament martyrs -- proved God's fidelity in the face of death? 

And so, "For the sake of the joy that lay before him

Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame,

and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.

We, his disciples, living in this world, practicing our faith, and dealing with the powers of this world, must emulate his defiance.