In today's gospel, Jesus' life is being threatened. The Jews pick up stones to stone him. It sounds almost like an adventure/action film, where the hero is being threatened only to later get revenge.
Revenge is certainly on everybody's mind. Everybody wants vengeance. Usually vengeance has to do with getting even, doing unto others worse than what they did unto us.
This is certainly what Jeremiah speaks of in the first readings as he seeks vengeance, "Let me witness the vengeance you take on them." It is particularly evil to do vengeance to another, but there is something more depraved to want to see it happen, witness it. Just like the prophet, even the best of us can get carried away in wanting vengeance.
On Sunday we will pray the Passion of Christ, Palm Sunday. As we pray that reality, we come in contact with God's vengeance. God's retribution on mankind is revealed. In the face of Christ crucified we see the vengeance of God.
God's retribution is mercy; God's retribution is not seeking death to others but about bringing new life to us. The cross is the vengeance of God revealed; we witness it every time we look upon the crucified face of Christ whose vengeance is one of love.
No comments:
Post a Comment