Cross of Christ

Today’s Gospel Text: Now it happened that as he was praying alone the disciples were with him; and he asked them, "Who do the people say that I am?" 19 And they answered, "John the Baptist; but others say, Eli'jah; and others, that one of the old prophets has risen." 20 And he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "The Christ of God." 21 But he charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, "The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." Luke 9:18-22

Reflection: “But he charged and commanded them to tell this to no one.” (vs.21) Jesus asks them after  they have answered then instructs them strictly to tell no one about him.

What is this big idea of asking his disciples to tell no one when he himself has asked them?

I can only think about the greatest information Jesus himself may be having about himself, namely that of his impending death: "The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." (vs.22)

If that is so then everything else can wait, every kind of knowledge about himself can wait, even if it is the best knowledge about himself. At the same time no knowledge about himself, no matter how good and fantastic it may be, is not worth its salt, unless it is salted by the fire of the cross.

Did St. Paul mean the same, when he said: “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”1 Cor 1:21-24

Whatever good we may do in life and even the most marvelous works in his name but if our work is not salted by the fire of the cross of Christ and the love of it then we are useless and our work a rubble.

The dedicated disciples of Jesus, must have picked up the value of the message of the cross much later than his resurrection, some of them as they went along proclaiming Christ Jesus.

Nevertheless they were all salted at some point or the other as they went along and this added power to their ministry which still shines forth in the Church down till this age.

Prayer: Lord, as I meditate on your cross, may I grow in loving you and your great sacrifice celebrated at every Eucharist.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Take Mary Home

Today’s Gospel Text: So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Mag'dalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" 27 Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. John 19:25-27

Reflection: No disciples at the cross except John and only the women, where did they go at this crucial moment when any human being waiting to depart would want them more.

Indeed, it was a crucial moment and at the same time a terrifying moment, because an innocent was killed in the most treacherous way, ever known to man.  

Who would want to stand next to a man who has been alleged to have committed one of the most grievous crimes? Who would like to be blacklisted, with the all powerful authorities bent on snuffing out a life that has been a threat to their ambitions and goals?

If it were only the Jewish authorities that were the cause of the injustice to Jesus and his companions then they could have gone in appeal to the pagan Roman authorities.

But it was not to be so, for even the Romans would want to cater to the Jewish sensitivities, which represented by the Jewish authorities. These Jewish authorities could abuse their position in getting a motley group to support their nefarious end.

In such circumstances the presence of the three Mary's and the beloved disciple at the foot of the cross was rather a bold step on their part, made possible with their love and absolute trust in their master, now crucified. It made them persist in being there at the moment of his ignoble death.

At the cross  new relationships are established, because it is a parting moment: "Woman, behold, your son!" (vs. 26)

It was like saying, woman you have the first say, God has blessed you with a free will to choose again, whether my word or your choice, if you accept him and the responsibility of discipling my disciple then I will announce my next plan.

Then he announces plan two, addressed to his beloved dedicated disciple: "Behold, your mother!" (vs. 27a)

Accepted, it meant taking Mary home with him: “And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” (vs. 27b)

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the gift of Mary, who not only said yes to bring you in this world as our savior, but also said yes to adopt us as her own. May we through her many sorrows find salvation.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us