23 March 2012, Satya Nilayam
Wisdom 2:1, 12-22; John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
A. INTRODUCTION
First Reading: The book of Wisdom describes how the godless ones plot to eliminate the just one because he is a threat to them.
Gospel: Despite hostility from others, Jesus spoke openly in public places. Is there anything that prevents me from openly proclaiming the message of Jesus?
B. Penitential Act
Lord, sometimes I hold back your message because I am not in the midst of friendly faces. Lord have mercy!
Lord sometimes I fail to live your message in my life because of the fear of criticism. Christ have mercy!
Lord sometimes I fail to to confront evil for fear of facing the consequences. Lord have mercy!
C. HOMILY : Consequence of Confronting Evil
Archbishop Oscar Romero was shot for speaking up against violence and injustice at El Salvadore, St. Maximilian Kolbe was tortured and finally killed for offering to take the place of a condemned prisoner in the Nazi concentration Camp, Martin Luther King was assassinated for speaking on human rights of the Black in United States, Fr. A.T. Thomas was decapitated for speaking against the landlords in Hazaribagh, Sr. Rani Maria was stabbed to death for seeking justice for the illiterate of Udainagar, M.P… the list could be endless!
If you confront evil, you become obnoxious, unpleasant to the evildoer. And the wicked, as vividly given in today's First reading, contemplates to eliminate you.
"If you do not like the message shoot the messenger" was the rule in Ancient Greece. With the title, "Shoot the Messenger", Walter Fernandes has a beautiful article on Resistance movement against Koodankulam Atomic plant. The protesters are labeled as anti-nationals or accused of having 'foreign hand'.
As we heard in the Gospel this morning, Jesus, in spite of knowing that they are seeking to kill him, goes to Jerusalem for the festival of Tabernacles. Feast of Tabernacles (in Hebrew called, Sukkot) was a 7 days feast in memory of the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, living in tabernacles, or tents, en route to the Promised Land. The festival is, therefore, a representation of faith in God's protection and promises. But, during Jesus time, God was forgotten.
Jesus confronts them, confronts their empty religion and brings God back among them. When he preaches a merciful Father, a forgiving father, a life-giving Father saying, "I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me", they have only one solution: finish him off!
The godless think, by shooting the messenger, the message is destroyed. ABp. Romero said, "if they kill me, I will rise in the Salvadoran people."
As Jesuits, very soon you will be faced with such situation of confronting evil. You may remain in your own Galilee feeling "safe" or go to Jerusalem to confront evil?
May Jesus give us the grace to be like him.
Vally Mendonca, S.J.
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