Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 249
Lectionary: 249
I knew their plot because the LORD informed me;
at that time you, O LORD, showed me their doings.
Yet I, like a trusting lamb led to slaughter,
had not realized that they were hatching plots against me:
“Let us destroy the tree in its vigor;
let us cut him off from the land of the living,
so that his name will be spoken no more.”
But, you, O LORD of hosts, O just Judge,
searcher of mind and heart,
Let me witness the vengeance you take on them,
for to you I have entrusted my cause!
at that time you, O LORD, showed me their doings.
Yet I, like a trusting lamb led to slaughter,
had not realized that they were hatching plots against me:
“Let us destroy the tree in its vigor;
let us cut him off from the land of the living,
so that his name will be spoken no more.”
But, you, O LORD of hosts, O just Judge,
searcher of mind and heart,
Let me witness the vengeance you take on them,
for to you I have entrusted my cause!
Responsorial Psalm PS 7:2-3,
9BC-10, 11-12
R. (2a) O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.
O LORD, my God, in you I take refuge;
save me from all my pursuers and rescue me,
Lest I become like the lion’s prey,
to be torn to pieces, with no one to rescue me.
R. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.
Do me justice, O LORD, because I am just,
and because of the innocence that is mine.
Let the malice of the wicked come to an end,
but sustain the just,
O searcher of heart and soul, O just God.
R. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.
A shield before me is God,
who saves the upright of heart;
A just judge is God,
a God who punishes day by day.
R. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.
O LORD, my God, in you I take refuge;
save me from all my pursuers and rescue me,
Lest I become like the lion’s prey,
to be torn to pieces, with no one to rescue me.
R. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.
Do me justice, O LORD, because I am just,
and because of the innocence that is mine.
Let the malice of the wicked come to an end,
but sustain the just,
O searcher of heart and soul, O just God.
R. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.
A shield before me is God,
who saves the upright of heart;
A just judge is God,
a God who punishes day by day.
R. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.
Gospel JN 7:40-53
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?”
So a division occurred in the crowd because of him.
Some of them even wanted to arrest him,
but no one laid hands on him.
So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees,
who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?”
The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.”
So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived?
Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?
But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.”
Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them,
“Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him
and finds out what he is doing?”
They answered and said to him,
“You are not from Galilee also, are you?
Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
Then each went to his own house.
“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?”
So a division occurred in the crowd because of him.
Some of them even wanted to arrest him,
but no one laid hands on him.
So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees,
who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?”
The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.”
So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived?
Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?
But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.”
Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them,
“Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him
and finds out what he is doing?”
They answered and said to him,
“You are not from Galilee also, are you?
Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
Then each went to his own house.
Meditation: Reaction to Jesus' words
When resistance and opposition to God's word
rears it head how do you respond? With fear and doubt? Or with faith and
courage? The prophet Jeremiah was opposed by his own people because the words
he spoke in God's name did not sit right with them. They plotted to silence him
and to "cut him off from the land of the living" (Jeremiah
11:19). Jeremiah responded with meekness and prophetic insight "like
a gentle lamb led to the slaughter" (Jeremiah 11:18).
No one can be indifferent for long when
confronted with Jesus and his claim to be the Messiah and Savior of the world.
Jesus' message and the miraculous signs he performed caused division for many
in Israel. Some believed he was a prophet, some the Messiah, and some believed
he was neither. The reaction of the armed officers was bewildered amazement.
They went to arrest him and returned empty-handed because they never heard
anyone speak as he did. The reaction of the chief priests and Pharisees was
contempt. The reaction of Nicodemus was timid. His heart told him to defend
Jesus, but his head told him not to take the risk.
Who is Jesus for you? And are you ready to give
him your full allegiance? There will often come a time when we have to take a
stand for the Lord Jesus and for the truth of the Gospel - the good news of
God's kingdom and the free gift of salvation which Jesus came to bring us. To
stand for Jesus and his kingdom may provoke mockery and opposition. It may even
entail suffering and hardship - such as the loss of job, reputation, or life.
There are fundamentally only two choices that
determine the course of our lives and the final destiny that awaits us: the
choice to live for God's kingdom of peace, joy, and righteousness or the
pursuit of the world's kingdom which stands in opposition to God's authority
and commandments. We can choose to obey God's word and promise of blessing or
we can choose to follow the voice of those who promise success and happiness
apart from God's truth and laws. The costly grace and freedom - which the Lord
Jesus offers to those who embrace the cross for his sake - leads to joy and blessing
in this life as well as the promise of eternal happiness with God. Cheap grace
- which tries to bypass the cross for the sake of being my own master and the
ruler of my own destiny - leads to emptiness and endless futility. Who do you
choose to be the master and ruler of your life and destiny?
"Lord Jesus, your Gospel brings joy and
freedom. May I be loyal to you always, even though it produce a cross on earth,
that I may share in your crown of victory for all eternity".
 Openness of Heart |
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Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
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John 7: 40-53
Some in the crowd who heard Jesus speak said, "This is
truly the Prophet." Others said, "This is the Messiah." But
others said, "The Messiah will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not
scripture say that the Messiah will be of David´s family and come from
Bethlehem, the village where David lived?" So a division occurred in the
crowd because of him. Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid
hands on him. So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who
asked them, "Why did you not bring him?" The guards answered,
"Never before has anyone spoken like this one." So the Pharisees
answered them, "Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities
or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the
law, is accursed." Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him
earlier, said to them, "Does our law condemn a person before it first
hears him and finds out what he is doing?" They answered and said to
him, "You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no
prophet arises from Galilee." Then each went to his own house,
Introductory Prayer: Christ, you are the most open-spirited
person in history. You are open to all who sincerely seek you. So I
seek you now, Lord, through this meditation. I hunger for your friendship and
grace. I love you, but I long for my love to grow so I can be ever closer to
you and more and more like you.
Petition: Lord, open my heart to you who are truth itself.
1. The Openness and Sincerity are Convincing: Just some moments prior,
Christ has spoken of himself as living water (John 7:38), and some in the
crowd react much the same way as did the Samaritan woman at the well.
At first they thought of him as a prophet, but now they begin to
believe that he is the Messiah. “Everything that the Father gives me
will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me…” (John 6:37).
Even the temple guards could not bring themselves to arrest him, so
compelling were his words. Christ tells his apostles not to prepare any
words in their defense when they are dragged before judges and magistrates
(Cf. Mark 13:11). Living in the truth is our best preparation for
communicating it in a compelling way.
2. Willful Blindness: The leaders however, as Nicodemus points
out, are not even willing to encounter Christ and hear him out. Their
obstinacy leads them to error: “Look and see that no prophet arises
from Galilee.” (What about Jonah and Hosea?) It also leads them to
malice . They are not even willing to give Jesus the benefit of the doubt
that he simply might have been delusional about his identity; instead, pushed
by jealousy, they have already made up their minds to accuse him of willful
deception. Do I knowingly and willingly shy away from the truth, any
truth? Do I realize where this could and will lead me?
3. The Truth Will Set You Free: The truth is often
difficult to swallow. In particular, the truth about Christ in relation to my
life—he is my Lord, he is my Redeemer, he deserves my all––seems somehow
fanatic, irrational, and unnatural in a world which values technological
progress, political correctness, and looking-out-for-number-one. But
Christians worthy of the name, in all centuries and in all walks of life,
have discovered that believing in the person of Jesus Christ, who meant every
word he said, is an experience of real freedom. It is a freedom from the
dead-end world of materialism, sin and death. It is a freedom to live a life
of love, truly human and divine, a love like Christ’s love for me, up to
death on a Cross!
Conversation with Christ: Lord, no one has ever
spoken like you. You have given us your Word in the gospels. I
realize that I need to have much more frequent contact with your words so as
to free me from my blindness. Let my understanding of your Word never
serve me as an occasion of vainglory or arrogance, rather as a tool to help
others come to know you better.
Resolution: I will break down a prejudice that I still harbor in my heart
against some aspect of Christ’s message.
SATURDAY, APRIL 5, JOHN 7:40-53
Lenten Weekday (Jeremiah 11:18-20; Psalm 7)  KEY VERSE: "So a division occurred in the crowd because of him" (v 43). READING: The Feast of Tabernacles (Hebrew, Sukkot) was a commemoration of Hebrew people on their journey in the exodus. It was also a festival to thank God for the rain that brought forth the harvest. While Jesus was attending the feast, he proclaimed that he was the source of the "living water" of the Spirit (Jn 7:37-38; 1 Cor.10:4). The people were divided in their opinion of Jesus. It was believed that the Messiah would come from David's city of Bethlehem in Judea (Mi 5:1), whereas, Jesus was from Galilee, the region of the gentiles, belittled because of its large pagan population. The temple police were impressed by Jesus’ words and did not arrest him. The religious leaders contemptuously retorted that only the unlearned crowd believed in Jesus. Nicodemus, a doctor of the law who had a personal encounter with Jesus (Jn 3:1-21), defended him. The Pharisees sarcastically told Nicodemus to look in the Scriptures and find out the Messiah's origin for himself. Although they searched the scriptures to find eternal life, they did not realize that God's Word gave testimony to Jesus who was the resurrection and the life. REFLECTING: Do I defend my faith when others demean it? PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to know you in a personal way as Nicodemus did. |
Optional Memorial of Vincent Ferrer, priest
Vincent Ferrer was born in 1357 and became a Dominican Friar at age 18 against his family's wishes. He became a priest and missionary, and a great preacher who converted thousands in Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Holland, England, Scotland, and Ireland. Vincent was invited to preach in Muslim Granada. He was the counselor to Pope Benedict XIII and adviser to the King of Aragon. Vincent traveled through Spain, France, Switzerland and Italy to end the Great Schism. He had the gift of tongues and was a miracle worker. Vincent is a Doctor of theology and is the patron saint of builders because of his fame for "building up" and strengthening the Church: through his preaching, missionary work, in his teachings, as confessor and adviser.
“If you truly want to help the soul of your neighbor, you should approach God first with all your heart. Ask him simply to fill you with charity, the greatest of all virtues; with it you can accomplish what you desire.” – Vincent Ferrer
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
God is Always Present
God is the one who will be there for us! God is the one who is
concerned and cares for us! God is the one who, as we pray in Psalm 34, hears
the cry of the poor!
Lord, my God, I take shelter in you
‘Prophets do not come out of Galilee.’Sometimes we can become so caught up in what we expect that we do not allow ourselves to be open to the wonder of the moment or a new experience. This is the case with the Pharisees in today’s gospel. They are so caught up with the idea that a Messiah cannot come from Galilee that they close themselves off to what could be an amazing new experience. They refuse to believe before they even meet Jesus. It is so much easier to be cynical than make ourselves vulnerable, but we have so much to gain from vulnerability. May we listen to the voice of Nicodemus and not pass judgement until we have heard what Jesus has to say.
April
5
St. Vincent Ferrer
(1350?-1419)
St. Vincent Ferrer
(1350?-1419)
The polarization in the Church today is a mild breeze compared
with the tornado that ripped the Church apart during the lifetime of this
saint. If any saint is a patron of reconciliation, Vincent Ferrer is.
Despite
parental opposition, he entered the Dominican Order in his native Spain at 19.
After brilliant studies, he was ordained a priest by Cardinal Peter de Luna—who
would figure tragically in his life.
Of a very
ardent nature, Vincent practiced the austerities of his Order with great
energy. He was chosen prior of the Dominican house in Valencia shortly after
his ordination.
The
Western Schism divided Christianity first between two, then three, popes.
Clement VII lived at Avignon in France, Urban VI in Rome. Vincent was convinced
the election of Urban was invalid though Catherine of Siena (April 29) was just
as devoted a supporter of the Roman pope. In the service of Cardinal de
Luna, Vincent worked to persuade Spaniards to follow Clement. When Clement
died, Cardinal de Luna was elected at Avignon and became Benedict XIII.
Vincent
worked for him as apostolic penitentiary and Master of the Sacred Palace. But
the new pope did not resign as all candidates in the conclave had sworn to do.
He remained stubborn despite being deserted by the French king and nearly all
of the cardinals.
Vincent
became disillusioned and very ill, but finally took up the work of simply
"going through the world preaching Christ," though he felt that any
renewal in the Church depended on healing the schism. An eloquent and fiery
preacher, he spent the last 20 years of his life spreading the Good News in
Spain, France, Switzerland, the Low Countries and Lombardy, stressing the need
of repentance and the fear of coming judgment. (He became known as the
"Angel of the Judgment.")
He tried,
unsuccessfully, in 1408 and 1415, to persuade his former friend to resign. He
finally concluded that Benedict was not the true pope. Though very ill, he
mounted the pulpit before an assembly over which Benedict himself was presiding
and thundered his denunciation of the man who had ordained him a priest.
Benedict fled for his life, abandoned by those who had formerly supported him.
Strangely, Vincent had no part in the Council of Constance, which ended the
schism.
Comment:
The split in the Church at the time of Vincent Ferrer should have been fatal—36 long years of having two "heads." We cannot imagine what condition the Church today would be in if, for that length of time, half the world had followed a succession of popes in Rome, and half, an equally "official" number of popes in, say, Rio de Janeiro. It is an ongoing miracle that the Church has not long since been shipwrecked on the rocks of pride and ignorance, greed and ambition. Contrary to Lowell's words, "Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne," we believe that "truth is mighty, and it shall prevail"—but it sometimes takes a long time.
The split in the Church at the time of Vincent Ferrer should have been fatal—36 long years of having two "heads." We cannot imagine what condition the Church today would be in if, for that length of time, half the world had followed a succession of popes in Rome, and half, an equally "official" number of popes in, say, Rio de Janeiro. It is an ongoing miracle that the Church has not long since been shipwrecked on the rocks of pride and ignorance, greed and ambition. Contrary to Lowell's words, "Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne," we believe that "truth is mighty, and it shall prevail"—but it sometimes takes a long time.
Quote:
“Precious stone of virginity...
Flaming torch of charity...
Mirror of penance...
Trumpet of eternal salvation...
Flower of heavenly wisdom...
Vanquisher of demons.”
(From the litanies of St. Vincent)
“Precious stone of virginity...
Flaming torch of charity...
Mirror of penance...
Trumpet of eternal salvation...
Flower of heavenly wisdom...
Vanquisher of demons.”
(From the litanies of St. Vincent)
Patron Saint of:
Builders
Reconciliation
Builders
Reconciliation
LECTIO DIVINA:
JOHN 7,40-53
Lectio:
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Lent Time
1)
OPENING PRAYER
Almighty God,
when people encountered your Son,
he became a source of division:
he affected their lives
one way or another.May we accept him fully
and empty ourselves to make room for him
in our everyday life, even when it hurts.
Help us, that with him
we may always seek and do your will.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
when people encountered your Son,
he became a source of division:
he affected their lives
one way or another.May we accept him fully
and empty ourselves to make room for him
in our everyday life, even when it hurts.
Help us, that with him
we may always seek and do your will.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
2)
GOSPEL READING - JOHN 7, 40-53
Some of the crowd who had been listening Jesus said, 'He is
indeed the prophet,' and some said, 'He is the Christ,' but others said, 'Would
the Christ come from Galilee? Does not scripture say that the Christ must be
descended from David and come from Bethlehem, the village where David was?' So
the people could not agree about him.
Some wanted to arrest him, but no one actually laid a hand on
him. The guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees who said to them,
'Why haven't you brought him?' The guards replied, 'No one has ever spoken like
this man.' 'So,' the Pharisees answered, 'you, too, have been led astray? Have
any of the authorities come to believe in him? Any of the Pharisees? This
rabble knows nothing about the Law -- they are damned.'
One of them, Nicodemus -- the same man who had come to Jesus
earlier -- said to them, 'But surely our Law does not allow us to pass
judgement on anyone without first giving him a hearing and discovering what he
is doing?' To this they answered, 'Are you a Galilean too? Go into the matter,
and see for yourself: prophets do not arise in Galilee.' They all went home.
3)
REFLECTION
• In chapter 7, John confirms that there were diverse opinions
and much confusion among the people regarding Jesus. The relatives thought
something (Jn 7, 2-5), people thought something different (Jn 7, 12). Some
said: “He is a prophet!” (Jn 7, 40). Others said: “He leads the people astray!”
(Jn 7, 12). Some praised him: “He is a good man!” (Jn 7, 12). Others criticized
him: “He has not been educated, has not studied!” (Jn 7, 15). Many opinions.
Each one had his own arguments, taken from the Bible or from Tradition. But
nobody remembered the Messiah Servant, announced by Isaiah (Is 42, 1-9; 49,
1-6; 50, 4-9; 52, 13-53, 12; 61, 1-2). Today, also, there is much discussion on
religion, and all take their arguments from the Bible. As in the past, the same
thing today, it happens many times that little ones are deceived by the
discourses of the great ones and, some times, even by the discourses of those
who belong to the Church.
• John 7, 40-44: The confusion among the people. The reaction of
the people is very diverse. Some say: he is the prophet. Others: he is the
Messiah; the Christ. Others claim: He cannot be because the Messiah will come
from Bethlehem and he comes from Galilee! These diverse ideas on the Messiah
produce division and confrontation. There were some who wanted to take him, to
arrest him, but they did not do it. Perhaps because they were afraid of the
people (cf. Mt 14, 2).
• John 7, 45-49: The arguments of the authority. Previously,
before the reaction of the people who were in favour of Jesus, the Pharisees
had sent some guards to arrest him (Jn 7, 32). But the guards returned without
Jesus. They had been greatly impressed in hearing people speak so well: “No one
has ever spoken like this man!” The Pharisees reacted: “Have you also been led
astray?” According to the Pharisees who said: “This rabble knows nothing about
the Law” and allows itself to be deceived by Jesus. It is as if they said: “No,
we the chief priests know things better and we do not allow ourselves to be led
astray!” and they say that the people are “damned”! The religious authority of
that time treated people with great contempt.
• John 7, 50-52: The defence of Jesus by Nicodemus. Before this
stupid argument, the honesty of Nicodemus revolts and he raises his voice to
defend Jesus: “But surely our Law does not allow us to pass judgment on anyone
without first giving him a hearing and discovering what he is doing?” The
reaction of the others is that Nicodemus is mocking them: “Nicodemus are you
also from Galilee? Look at the Bible and you will see for yourself that
prophets do not arise in Galilee!” They are sure! Holding the book of the past,
they defend themselves against the future which arrives and disturbs them.
Today, many people continue to do the same thing. They only accept the novelty
if it agrees with their own ideas which belong to the past.
4)
PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• Today, which are the diverse opinions that people have about
Jesus? And in your community, are there different opinions which cause
confusion? Which? Say them, describe them.
• There are persons who accept only the novelty which agrees
with their own ideas and which belongs to the past. And you?
5)
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Have mercy on me, O God,
in your faithful love,
in your great tenderness wipe away my offences;
wash me clean from my guilt,
purify me from my sin. (Ps 51,1-2)
in your faithful love,
in your great tenderness wipe away my offences;
wash me clean from my guilt,
purify me from my sin. (Ps 51,1-2)
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