For today’s Chrism Mass, the final reading comes from Luke (4:16-21).   Jesus has just started His public ministry in Galilee but was gaining renown quickly.  Today we read about Jesus returning to the town in which He grew up, Nazareth.  Going to synagogue on the sabbath, He is given the scriptures to read, specifically Isaiah.  He turns to the passage which begins with the words above (Is 61:1-2) and then, closing the book, declares “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing” (v. 21).  Appropriate for this celebration as, just as Jesus speaks of His anointing by the Spirit for proclamation and service to the poor, captives, blind, oppressed, at this Mass, the bishop blesses the oil of catechumens, the oil of the sick, and the oil of chrism (for baptism, confirmation, the ordination of priests, and the consecration of altars).  Those of us who have been baptized, confirmed, ordained, or anointed when ill also have this Spirit upon us, assuming we have not cut off the life of grace by mortal sin (and if we have, this is quickly remedied by sacramental confession).  Having the Holy Spirit we too are called to our duties to all our neighbors (i.e., everyone).  Gifted with these graces, and always praying and working to be open to more of the infinite graces available to us, we must never be neglectful of all those who need to hear about Jesus from us and to see Jesus in us.

“Spy Wednesday” has us turning to the betrayal account in Matthew (26:14-25).  This evangelist tells of Judas plotting with the chief priests to hand Jesus over for thirty pieces of silver.  The scene quickly shifts to the disciples preparing the Passover per Jesus’ instructions.  The final paragraph is Jesus and the Twelve reclining at table during the Last Supper.  As we read in John yesterday, Jesus predicts that He will be betrayed.  Jesus affirms that Judas is the betrayer in responding to the latter’s question, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” (v. 25).  Jesus’ prediction of the betrayal comes with the severe words we read at top.  May those words never be directed at us!  May we never, by our words, actions, or attitudes, fail or desert Jesus or those in whom we should see Him: the hungry, thirsty, stranger, sick, prisoner (cf. Mt 25:31-45) or lead astray “little ones” (Mt 18:5).  Unlike Judas, of whom Jesus said, “It would be better for that man if he had never been born” (v. 24), we must show that we were given life in order to advance the Kingdom of God by bringing ourselves and others into it, never despairing even if our labor is openly spurned or its fruits are difficult to discern.  Our recompense on earth is knowing that we are following God’s will; our reward in heaven will be great (Mt 5:12).

Yesterday’s reading continued in John, but jumped to the very end of chapter 13 (21-33, 36-38) with the Last Supper already begun.  It starts with Jesus prediction of the betrayal by one of the Twelve.  Jesus confides in John (through Peter’s prompting) who the betrayer is.  Judas then quickly leaves.  Jesus then speaks of His glorification, tells them He will be leaving them soon, and says they cannot follow immediately.  Peter insists he would die for Jesus, but Jesus responds with the prediction of Peter’s three-fold denial.  Jesus’ response to Peter begins with the words at the head of this post.  It is a question for us today as it has been for all ages.  Now certainly there was more of a threat of red martyrdom (forfeiting one’s life for the faith) in the earliest centuries of Christianity than we in the West have today.  But what sort of white martyrdom (suffering for the faith) are we willing to endure for Christ?  Might it be little barbs for expressing that faith openly in the manner in which one lives and interacts?  Ridicule for not going along with the crowd in gossip, cheating, or some other morally dubious or plainly immoral behavior?  What about declaring one’s conviction to the masses via an op/ed piece, response to the same, or social media?  Are we prepared for the vitriol that can come with such an exposition?  When we do these things with love in order to live our faith properly, correct misconceptions, or for the purposes of fraternal correction, we are acting appropriately.  Let us not be like Peter who denied Jesus in the face of extreme adversity (surely he felt personally threatened) but rather let us be like the Peter of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-36) who boldly proclaimed Christ unceasingly for the rest of his life.  We must ask for the same Spirit that moved him to move us.

Holy Week begins where we left off Saturday: at the beginning of John 12 (1-11).  Jesus is visiting His very close friends, siblings Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, as they throw a dinner for Him.  Mary proceeds to anoint Jesus’ feet with expensive oil and dries them with her hair.  Judas complains (out of his own greed) about this “waste” but is reprimanded by Jesus.  A large crowd finds out that Jesus and Lazarus (raised from the dead) are there and descends upon the house.  Meanwhile the Jewish religious leaders plot to kill both Jesus and Lazarus because of the reason given in the headline of this post.  The “him” referred to is Lazarus.  And truly, Jesus did something wonderful for Lazarus: He raised him from the dead!  Is it any wonder that Jesus was gaining adherents?  Likewise, is it any wonder that Jesus’ adversaries wanted both dead, particularly in light of all we’ve read from John up to this point?  Should it not be that we also proclaim the wonders God has done for us so that He can work through us to bring others to Him?  And, while most of us will likely not have to fear physical death because of our beliefs (although there continue to be many martyrs around the world), can we accept joyfully a certain persecution than can come with public display and pronouncement of our faith (cf. Acts 5:41)?  What we want is for others to come to conversion and faith while we continue our process of conversion away from sin — at its worst, breaking our relationship with God, but even venially keeping us from a full union with the Almighty.

Being Palm Sunday, in anticipation of the Easter Triduum coming starting Thursday, the Church presents to us a Passion narrative of Jesus.  This year it comes from Mark (14:1-15:47).  Covering the entirety of chapters fourteen and fifteen, we start with the continued plotting of the chief priests and scribes, and continue with the woman who anoints Jesus, Judas visiting the chief priests, the Last Supper, the Agony in the Garden, Judas betrayal, Jesus in front of the Sanhedrin eventually found guilty and condemned, Peter’s threefold denial, Pilate’s interrogation, the condemnation of the crowd, the scourging, the Way of the Cross (with Simon of Cyrene’s help), the Crucifixion (while insults hurled at Him), the death of Jesus (with the subsequent act of faith of the centurion), and finally Joseph of Arimathea’s asking for Jesus’ body and entombing it.  It is wonderful to hear the entire story of Holy Thursday and Good Friday in one sitting.  There is much to contemplate here, but let us focus on the words at top.  Since the Romans had to “press” Simon into service, it is clear that it is not something he wanted to do.  Not being from Jerusalem, he may not even have known who Jesus was.  Yet there he was, helping Jesus.  May it be that we never feel “pressed” into, or try to avoid entirely, service for the Lord, but rather that we take on not just willingly but joyfully whatever He has in mind for us, no matter the cost, time, frustration, difficulty, or suffering it may involve.  While Simon was ultimately helping Jesus to His death, may we be bringing others to life that the Lord won for us by His death and resurrection.  Like Simon, let us be instruments of the Father’s will.  We adore you O Christ and we praise you because by Your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Skipping over the raising of Lazarus at the beginning of chapter eleven, we move today to the end of that chapter (Jn 11:45-56).  We read of the plot of the chief priests and Pharisees to have Jesus killed.  Caiaphas, the high priest, prophesies that Jesus must die so that the Jewish nation can survive.  The evangelist adds that Jesus will not only die for the Jews “but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God” (v. 52).  Knowing their plans, Jesus does not walk around freely among his antagonists but stays away with His disciples.  This causes the people of Jerusalem to speculate about whether or not Jesus will return there for Passover.  The big concern of the Jewish leaders is highlighted in the headline of this post.  If all Jews turn to Jesus, they believe that Rome will feel threatened and thus persecute the entire nation (or maybe their more concerned about losing their own power).  There is a connection here for us today.  It seems today that Jesus is not left alone by those who have no use for His teachings.  Rather they denounce and persecute Him by attacking and demeaning His Church (cf. Acts 9:4).  Clearly, the devil and secular forces are threatened by the challenge of doctrine and moral teaching promulgated by Christian believers.  If all believe in Him, what becomes of the morally depraved industries (e.g., pornography, gambling, abortion) that so rely on sinful behavior?  We must work to counter this onslaught by praying much, living righteously, and being a shining light for the Truth.

Skipping past chapter nine (the long episode of the healing of the man born blind and the subsequent controversy), we move forward to the end of the following chapter (Jn 10:31-42).  We are a week out from Good Friday and the dispute between Jesus and His Jewish adversaries ramps up all the more.  This passage starts out with the Jews poised to stone Jesus because in the previous verse Jesus said “The Father and I are one” (v. 30).  They go on to say they believe He deserves stoning for making Himself equal to God.  Jesus points out they should at least believe in Him because of the works He does on behalf of the Father.  Jesus then escapes arrest, going back to the place John first baptized.  The passage ends with the headline.  Like John the Baptist, we should be taking the time and making the effort to talk about Jesus to those we encounter.  In order to do this well we must learn about Jesus from scripture and the Church and pray to Jesus for guidance and help.  Invoking the Holy Spirit, this Spirit of Truth will guide us to speak correctly and forthrightly about the Lord so that through us many will begin to believe in Him.  We must not neglect the call of Christ and His Church to always look for opportunities to evangelize.

Jumping ahead a few verses, Jesus continues to provoke His Jewish adversaries (Jn 8:51-59 — skipped was Jesus continuing to rail against these same Jews as children of the devil, who, because they imitate the father of lies, cannot believe the Truth).  Now He says that “whoever keeps my word will never see death” (v. 51).  These Jews accuse Him of being possessed since they know that every human person dies.  They even note that the great Abraham died.  Jesus says Abraham has seen His day, and then declares the line at top.  This making Himself out to God incites the crowd to try and stone Him, but He is able to slip away.  Jesus was very clear as to who He was, stating explicitly here that that He is Yahweh (“I AM” — Ex 3:14), even though He knew He was taking His life in His hands.  He was not just a great teacher, an exemplary man, or simply a founder of a movement.  He is all those things and the Second Person of the infinite and holy Trinity become incarnate in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago.  He declares that He is the Truth and that Word must be kept if we are to enjoy eternal bliss with Him.  Realizing that it is God speaking when Jesus speaks (and the entire Bible is His Word) should we not want to read it more, study it at length, and measure our lives against it (of course with proper understanding through the authority of the Church Christ established)?  We should make scripture a regular part of our daily routine.  Mass is best, if possible, but even a few verses at breakfast, a Bible or commentary CD in the car, or a passage a day sent automatically to your inbox, will help to make each day blessed.  Don’t let a day pass without giving the Lord an opportunity to speak to you in exactly the place you are at.

The gospel for today (Jn 8:31-42) takes up right where it left off yesterday. Jesus’ rhetoric becomes white hot as He blasts certain Jews for being slaves to sin (see above), children of the devil, and plotters of His demise.  If they were truly children of Abraham and of God, Jesus says, then they would know and love Him because of the One who sent Him.  Any person who has a particular vice, addiction, or recurring particular sin that is hard to overcome, in an honest moment, will tell you that this difficulty is true enslavement.  When one’s life revolves around a certain bad habit, or when a particular sinful act continuously diminishes a person in himself and his relationship to others, it is as if one is ensnared in a trap of which he cannot seem to get out.  The power of a sincere examination of conscience followed by sacramental Confession (as often as necessary) has helped innumerable persons overcome the most difficult and pervasive sinful habits and addictions.  With God’s grace, all things are possible, no matter how far into a pit a person has fallen.  What is needed is perseverance and trust.  It is important to remember that God is perfectly free but cannot commit sin.  Thus, authentic freedom is the freedom to do the good.  Jesus set freedom free for us (cf. Gal 5:1).  Let us strive to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (Mt 5:48) as we imitate His Son Jesus.

Had not yesterday been the celebration of the Annunciation, we would have moved to the beginning of John 8 and the story of the woman caught in adultery (“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” [v. 7]).  Today we move further along in the same chapter (Jn 8:21-30) as Jesus continues to debate with the Pharisees.  Here He tells them that He is going away and they cannot follow.  They wonder if He is planning suicide.  Jesus continues, warning them of the consequences of their sinfulness.  Then they ask Him who He is.  Jesus says He was sent by the true one (the Father), that He does the Father’s will,  and that they will come to realize He Himself is “I AM” (vv. 24, 28) when He is lifted up (an allusion to His death and possibly His ascension).  The passage concludes with John writing the words at top.  Jesus’ warning to the self-righteous, blind to their own sin, but willing to condemn others is timeless.  The power of His words converted many and they continue to do so today.  The Word of God, particularly the words of Jesus the God-Man, is a powerful tool for evangelization.  How many have been converted, moved, enlightened , or drawn closer to the Lord by seemingly obscure passages they have come across, verses they opened to at random, or a sentence they had heard a hundred times before?  Opportunities to read the Bible, share its message, or use the words of scripture in our conversations, correspondence, and social media should be taken advantage of.  We never know when a friend, relative, or stranger (or ourselves) may be just in the right place spiritually to be ready for the light of scripture to be uncovered.