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Lenten Reflection Series
Week 6: April 4 - 7, 2004
Click on the date in order to read the Scriptural texts on which the reflections are based.
April 4, 2004 - Passion Sunday
Let us start this meditation by recalling a Greek word: onomatopoeia. Webster’s dictionary gives as the meaning for this word “the formation of a word by imitating the sound associated with the object or action involved.” I would like to suggest that we approach this Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion with sounds and actions of both mind and heart.
First of all, children were singing and shouting “Hosanna.” This sounds like a rejoicing word. “Hosanna,” Alleluia,” even “Jesus” sound like words of victory. Jesus is seen by the crowd as a victorious hero, a promised Messiah, the answer to our problems – for 15 minutes. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was his unwanted “15 minutes of fame” that life supposedly holds for each of us. Jesus had his moments of fame many times before this grand entrance into Jerusalem with all the shouts of joy and animated gestures of the crowd in recognition. His moments were clear manifestations of God’s will for Him: at the Epiphany, at His Baptism, and at His Transfiguration.
This so-called triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem surely had him scared to death as to what this rejoicing crowd could and would turn into. Would these same desperate people who were looking for a Saviour all their lives turn ugly and reverse their shouts of “Hosanna, Son of David" into "Crucify Him" and "We have no king but Caesar!" Certainly we know that those faithful followers who had seen and heard the words and actions of Jesus saw him not as a threat but as a teacher, healer and restorer of life. But those who were threatened by Jesus, the hierarchy of his day, saw him as blasphemer, troublemaker, and one who could upset their plans for power. He had indeed broken their laws of insidious corruption and was worthy of death: capital punishment for several capital crimes.
Jesus was lead to crucifixion as a lamb going to sacrifice so that their sins and our sins and your sins and my sins – the sins of the whole world would be forgiven.
O felix culpa! O happy fault! No greater love than this……
Father Bernard Farley
St. John Neumann Nursing Home – Catholic Health Care Services
Monday, April 5, 2004
Isaiah gently reminds us of our obligation to bring forth justice on the earth and to teach it! This can be a very difficult challenge because it requires sometimes speaking and acting out for what’s right; being a hell-raiser that challenges the status quo; doing our part to change unjust structures.
The Evangelist brings us into the scene where Mary anoints Jesus’ feet and then dries them with her hair. Recall when Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. Was this not the Teacher, as well as Mary, demonstrating to us the role of the Suffering Servant? (Some say that it was when he washed their feet that he founded the Church.)
Sandra Schneiders, IHM believes that John deliberately presents Mary here as a disciple of Jesus which is a role forbidden to Jewish women in the time of Jesus. Could there be a connection here?
To bring justice is what we are asked to do! Let us pray for the courage to accept that we are vulnerable beings and the Grace to be free from the fear of exposing this side of ourselves.
Suggested Action: As a disciple of Jesus I will act on the opportunity to wash another’s feet through my compassion, understanding and unconditional love.
Sr. Regina Burns, IHM
Chester City Family Service Center, CSS Family Services Divison
Throughout school, I recall learning the Johari Window. For those who are unfamiliar with the Johari Window, it is a disclosure/feedback model of awareness developed in 1955. To create a Johari Window, draw a square and divide it into fourths, creating the image of a window with four panes. The top left pane is labeled Open. This is the area of our conscious selves. It is what we know about ourselves and what others know about us. The top right pane is labeled Blind. In this pane, there are things about ourselves, which we do not know, but that others can see more clearly about us. The bottom left pane is the Hidden area which are things about us that cannot be known to others unless we disclose it. The bottom right pane is the Unknown area. It is what others and we do not know about ourselves; however, at times we do get a glimpse.
When I read the words of Isaiah 49:1-6 as well as similar passages in Jeremiah, I often think about the Unknown pane. “The Lord called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name…For now the Lord has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb.” These statements remind me that God knows me even better than I know myself. My Unknown pane in the Johari Window may be knowledge about myself that others and I are blind to, but God is not blind to this knowledge about me. God knows all parts of me even the parts I think I hide from him. The beautiful reality about all of this is that, it’s OK because God accepts all of me—the good, the so-so, the bad, and the down right ugly. What more could a person ask for than to be in a relationship where he/she is totally accepted for who he/she is?
And how does God manage to know all about us, but still accept even the ugly stuff? Two words—tremendous love. God has a love for us that no human could even begin to comprehend. So when you find yourself in a difficult situation, depressed, lonely, guilty, lost, doubting, despairing, gently remind yourself how well your Creator knows you and loves you for every bit of who you are. And if you are not in a state where you can remind yourself, then go and seek out someone who can.
Rita Langan
Northeast Family Service Center - CSS Family Services Division
The two readings for this day remind me of childhood lessons taught by my parents. “Actions speak louder than words,” and “If you can’t say something good about someone than don’t say anything at all,” are two sayings that I often heard while growing up. These simple sayings, although learned in my youth, have always “stuck” with me and I believe parallel our readings today.
My parents tried to live by a simple notion: that we, as God’s children must bring Christ to all whom we meet, to see and listen for Christ in all people. They tried to “speak volumes” by their actions rather than just words. The lessons that my mother and father taught us about honesty, loyalty, humility and justice were profound. They as parents did their best to raise children with “well-trained” tongues. "Words can hurt someone far more than hitting someone" was a lesson that my parents often explained.
They taught that betrayal of another often causes more hurt and pain because physical pain is temporary while the pain associated with harmful words can last forever. We may damage someone’s reputation and cause irreparable harm to that person’s inner self by a lie or harmful, unnecessary revelation about another. The figure of Judas epitomizes the concept of betrayal and demonstrates that even those close to Jesus can fail.
The figure of Judas was scary to me as a child and is very sad to me as an adult. Whenever I think of Judas turning Jesus over for money, I hope and pray that I will have the grace to never put money or objects before God, my family or any other person. I also think of how hurt Jesus must have felt. Jesus spent so much time with Judas doing nothing but good for him and Judas ultimately returned Jesus’ goodness with betrayal. Jesus did not seek revenge against Judas, but did speak the truth about his action, “ ….but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.” Jesus reminded Judas, the disciples and us all that we are accountable for both our actions and words.
The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced.
John Chapman
St. Mary Manor - Catholic Health Care Services
