Gospel, Homily and Coffee

What are we searching for from this Passion?  What are we looking for in Christ? Jesus has one heck of a week/few days. People working to kill him. Friends betraying him. Friends being unrealistic Friends not being supportive Physical violence, lies, corruption, rejection, mockery, and of course finally, death. It is the path of self-centeredness, self-seeking, selfishness. Let’s be honest, that can be our weeks too; or months or seemingly our whole lives. This is happening to us, or/and it is us doing it to others. It causes nothing it seems but heartache, suffering. The chaos of it all can overwhelm us. Is this what we are called to?  Is this why we are created in God’s own image? Look at Jesus’ response to these moments..he calls the people to something else.  He does not give in to the sins of the people, but by his words, gestures, and actions and lack of actions, reveals a different path. To Judas’ greed he calls for compassion to others.

John’s Gospel can be a challenge. It presents to us a Christology from on high, meaning, it starts with Jesus’ divinity and works towards his humanity. We have these wonderful, theologically complex speeches from Jesus:  full of poetic, symbolic language that our Church just luxuriates in. Here’s the challenge...what is the relevance for us today? What is the impact of Jesus’ “hour of Glory” for us in this 21st century. I think it is powerful. We must root ourselves in our understanding of salvation.   At the heart, salvation is the God given freedom to do what is right and good. It is the capacity to do what is good, unhindered by our emotions or the coldness of logic, and in spite of circumstances and consequences. We choose to do what is good.  We want to do the good. That is freedom. There is an ancient question, an ancient challenge that has been thrown at Christians:  Explain how such a Good God permits such evil. A wise teacher told me th

Over the past several months, a certain recurring theme has been present in my thoughts, prayers and in my discussions with people. It is this:  Jesus, the Son of God, was killed by humans, as we would say, through our sinfulness.   The Father’s response to this murder, is the resurrection. This is our salvation. The Father’s faithfulness, the Father’s love, the Father’s mercy knows no limits:  the Father has no interest in punishing us. That’s the theme. How this has been made real in my life and in people that i know is wide and varied. Jesus knew of this love, this faithfulness, this mercy.  The Son of God was sent by the Father so that we would know of this as well, not just with a head knowledge, but in very real and concrete ways.   This famous Gospel passage is Jesus trying to get Nicodemus to understand.   Nicodemus, a man of scripture, a religious leader; not a bad person, but he has limited himself.  He cannot open his mind and heart to w