Podcast Summary
Eucharist and obedience: During Mass, we're called to behold Jesus, God's obedient son, who brings justice and peace. By partaking in the Eucharist, we're invited to imitate Jesus' obedience and love, bringing hope and justice to the world.
During the Holy Mass, we are called to behold God's beloved son, Jesus Christ, present in the Holy Eucharist. God the Father delights in His son and takes pride in his obedience and justice. Jesus, in turn, shows us how to establish a right relationship with God and others. By partaking in the Eucharist, we are invited to become obedient children of God, who proclaim justice and establish peace. The quote from Isaiah in today's Gospel reading emphasizes this, as God speaks of His chosen servant, who will bring justice to the nations. The Holy Eucharist is a reminder of God's love and desire for us to be in a right relationship with Him and with each other. We are called to imitate Jesus' obedience and love, and in doing so, we can bring hope and justice to the world.
Relationship with Jesus: Focusing on our relationship with Jesus enables us to live eucharistic lives, receive God's love fully, and bring internal peace and justice, ultimately leading to a deeper connection with Him.
God invites us to have a deep and obedient relationship with Him, modeled on that of a loving servant. Jesus, as the embodiment of God's love and the receiver of the Holy Spirit, enables us to establish a right relationship with God and live Eucharistic lives. This relationship brings internal peace and justice, allowing us to receive God's love fully. Jesus, as the sacrament of love, brings hope to all nations and enables us to live in a way that aligns with God's will. By focusing on our relationship with Jesus, we allow God to bring us justice and righteousness, ultimately leading to a deeper connection with Him.
Pharisees' deceitfulness: The Pharisees, despite their outwardly religious appearance, were covetous and deceitful, planning to murder Jesus, revealing that true faith goes beyond external observance and requires a commitment to love and serve others.
As believers, we are called to bring hope and justice to the nations, but we must be prepared to face opposition and adversity in the process. The Pharisees, who appeared to be the most religious individuals, were actually planning to murder Jesus, demonstrating that external piety does not necessarily equate to an upright heart. Micah's prophecy from seven centuries prior described the Pharisees' wicked intentions, revealing that they were covetous and deceitful, even planning their evil deeds in broad daylight. Despite their outward appearance, they were not living according to God's will. This passage serves as a reminder that true faith requires more than just external observance; it demands a commitment to love and serve others, even in the face of adversity. We must strive to live out our faith authentically, with a heart that seeks justice and hope for all people.
Jesus' protection of others: Jesus prioritized love and obedience to God over engaging with those plotting against His disciple, protecting others from negative influences.
Jesus, despite being in the presence of those who were plotting against His beloved disciple, Pius, chose to withdraw rather than engage in their evil schemes. He did this not to escape, but to protect others from their negative influences. This action highlights Jesus' love and concern for others, as well as His understanding of the importance of living justly and loving God and others above all else. The context of the discussion emphasizes the contrast between the actions of the religious leaders, who were more concerned with laws and boundaries than with love and compassion, and Jesus' teachings and actions, which prioritize love and obedience to God.
Jesus' unique approach to evil and suffering: Jesus heals and restores instead of attacking evil head-on, redeeming the world through quiet and healing work, and calls us to proclaim the gospel while trusting in his ways and timing
Jesus' approach to dealing with evil and suffering in the world is different from our human ways. He doesn't want us to attack it head-on all the time but instead, draws us away from it to heal and restore us. He didn't want to be labeled as a political messiah or fit into people's worldly expectations. He redeemed the world through his quiet and healing work on Calvary, seeking vengeance in a divine way rather than through worldly categories of victory. Although Jesus once asked us not to make him known, now he calls us to go to the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature, baptizing them in his name. This shows us that his methods and timing are not always the same as ours, and we must trust in his ways and categories for true healing and redemption.
Jesus' absence and presence: Despite temporary feelings of Jesus' absence, his presence continues to be with us, accomplishing his work and coming to us wherever we are.
Jesus' message is for us to carry out his teachings and be witnesses to his presence with us always. He chose certain individuals to heal, strengthen, and send out to spread the gospel. Despite his crucifixion on Good Friday, we don't have to experience a literal Holy Saturday, as he rose from the dead and is with us until the end of time. However, those who have deeply connected with Jesus during spiritual journeys may feel a profound sense of withdrawal when the journey ends. But, Jesus' absence is only temporary, and his presence continues to be with us, accomplishing his work and coming to us wherever we are. The Pharisees' plot to crucify Jesus resulted in his withdrawal from those doing evil, but also from those doing good for a time. This is a reminder of the importance of staying connected to Jesus despite feelings of withdrawal or absence.
Identity as God's children: During Holy Week, we reflect on Christ's Passion and embrace our identity as God's chosen and beloved children, uniting us with Him in His suffering and Resurrection.
That during Holy Week, as we reflect on the Passion of Christ and enter into His suffering, we are reminded of our identity as God's chosen and beloved children. This identity comes from our union with Christ, who endured betrayal and suffering for our salvation. By embracing the Paschal Mystery, we not only share in Christ's Passion but also His Resurrection. So, today, we express our gratitude to the Father for His love and for granting us the privilege of being part of His family through His Son. We hunger to deepen our relationship with Him and to live out this identity in our daily lives.