READINGS:
1 R : Is 49: 1 - 6.
Ps 70 : 1- 2, 3 - 4, 5 - 6ab, 15 & 17.
Gos : Jn 13 : 21 - 33, 36 - 38.
TODAY WE MEDITATE ON THE SECOND SERVANT SONG OF ISIAH IN THE FIRST READING.
THE TWO MAIN THEMES IN THIS SERVANT SONG ARE:
1. CALL OR CHOICE BY GOD- DEFINITELY, INITIALLY IT WAS APPLICABLE TO ISIAH OR TO THE KING AND NOW APPROPRIATED TO JESUS.
2. THE SALVATION WOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE " WORLD " AND NOT ONLY TO ISRAEL , HINTING AT THE UNIVERSALITY OF REDEMPTION. ALSO NOTE WHAT SIMEON SAID AT THE PRESENTATION OF JESUS AT THE TEMPLE. ..... A LIGHT FOR REVELATION TO THE GENTILES AND FOR GLORY TO THY PEOPLE ISRAEL.
IN FACT, THAT DAY A PROCESSION WITH LIGHTED CANDLES PRECEDES THE HOLY MASS.
IN THE GOSPEL WE HAVE THE PICTURE OF POISE AND ACCEPTANCE IN THE PERSON OF JESUS.
HE HAS THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE BETRAYAL BY JUDAS AND REJECTION BY PETER.
YET, JESUS IS SHOWING THE COURAGE OF CONVICTION. EVEN IF JUDAS WERE TO REPENT LIKE PETER HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ' FORGIVEN ' OPINE SOME.
WE SHOULD ALSO UNDERLINE THE FACT THAT FOR JESUS, TO BE RAISED IS THE GLORY OF GOD. IN ST. JOHN TO BE RAISED IS FIRST TO BE CRUCIFIED AND THEN TO BE ' RISEN ' .
JESUS , THUS ACCEPTED THE CENTRALITY OF THE CROSS AS THE ONLY WAY OF SALVATION. TO REFER TO THE OFT REPEATED QUOTE, ...." FOR THE GENTILES THE CROSS IS FOOLISHNESS AND TO THE JEWS A SCANDAL... "
MOST OF THE PROBLEMS WE FACE AS BELIEVERS TODAY EMANATE FROM THE FACT THAT WE RUN AWAY FROM THE CROSS.
LET US ACCEPT THE CENTRALITY OF CROSS THIS DAY AND BE REALLY ' RAISED '.
