I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent

 Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon's house.  But Simon's wife's mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her.  So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her.  And immediately she arose and served them.

When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.  And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!"  And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.

Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place.  And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent."  And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

- Luke 4:38-44

Yesterday we read that, after being rejected in His hometown of Nazareth, He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths.  And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.  Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon.  And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Let us alone!  What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth?  Did You come to destroy us?  I know who You are -- the Holy One of God!"  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"  And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him.  Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, "What a word this is!  For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."  And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

 Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon's house.  But Simon's wife's mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her.  So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her.  And immediately she arose and served them.  We see an integrated community of believers in Capernaum, where Peter has his home.  This passage tells us that Peter is married, with an extended family, which becomes home and headquarters to Christ's ministry.  My study bible quotes St. Cyril of Alexandria, who writes about Jesus' rebuke of the fever of Peter's mother-in-law:  "That which was rebuked was some living thing unable to withstand the influence of Him who rebuked it, for it is not reasonable to rebuke a thing without life and unconscious of the rebuke.  Nor is it astonishing for there to exist certain powers that inflict harm on the human body."

When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.  And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!"  And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.  Jesus' capacity to heal becomes a strong and early focus of His Galilean ministry.  All know about Him, to the extent that their sick are brought to Him.  Once again, as in yesterday's reading (above), the demons know who He is, but He rebukes them and doesn't allow them to speak; He does not want His identity revealed in this way and at this time.  We note the connection of illness and demonic activity; not all illnesses are linked to this, but their co-incidence is evident here.  All things seem to stir around Christ, both illness and demons fail to remain in place in His presence and action.

Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place.  And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent."  And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.  My study bible tells us that Christ's primary mission was to preach the kingdom.  Miracles and healings testify both to the truth of the message and also the identity of Christ as Teacher.  This same pattern holds true in the Church under the apostles (Acts 4:29-30).   Let us note that before each new expansion of His ministry, Jesus retreats in solitude and peace for prayer.

Jesus' influence begins to have hallmark effects on the communities of His ministry.  He begins to tour around Galilee, so to speak.  He's established a pattern in Capernaum.  He preaches in the synagogue on the Sabbaths.  Today's reading gives us a picture of one Sabbath in His ministry.  He goes to the synagogue and preaches, and then returns "home" where Peter's mother-in-law is ill.  They request that He come to her; He rebukes her fever and heals her.  It is time for the meal, and she is well and rises to serve them, restored to her place in the home.  Later when the sun is setting, the community brings the sick to Him.  Many who are sick have demonic influence, and as in the synagogue the demons make themselves known -- and recognize Him -- as they are forced to depart and remove their influence from the community.  Jesus has power and authority over them, commanding them to silence.  It's as if the world is a lawless place as far as demonic activity is concerned, but Christ comes with law, power, and authority over them.  The next day, Jesus departs to a "deserted place" -- but the community comes seeking Him.  They try to persuade Him to remain, but He tells them that He must take His ministry to other cities in Galilee.  When Jesus retreats to a deserted place, it is always for prayer, a necessary time of rest, reflection, and consultation with the Father.  He tells them that He's sent to other cities also, and takes up His ministry in the synagogues of Galilee.  It's like Jesus is "all business."  He knows why He is sent and what He is sent to do.  He's on a mission, and He must complete it accordingly.  Jesus' ministry so far in its beginning has clearly been directed both by the will of the Father and the action of the Holy Spirit.  He has something He is supposed to do, and He's not alone, but has been sent to accomplish something, and He is faithful to that mission.  We can see His influence, His energy and power at work.  It is stirring up the world everywhere He goes.  People respond to the healing, but first He preaches and teaches.  What we can take from today's reading is how His power, authority, and influence work.  Is this what you want in your life?  We also note Jesus' repeated retreat for prayer and renewal, which occurs in the Gospels quite remarkably as a sort of punctuation between each new phase and expansion of ministry.  It is something we can all learn from.   Our lives unfold as Jesus' ministry unfolds.  We have something to do, but we live in a world where all kinds of influences and interactions are possible and will make up the story of our lives.   Like Christ, we should find that pattern of retreat and prayer as frequent "punctuation" in the midst of all else we do, particularly when we are working through a difficult time of transition and decision.  We call upon His words and His influence and power and authority to find our way and to help us in all circumstances.  Like Christ, we note also the Father and the Holy Spirit, the energies of mercy and grace we need, and the prayer to Our Father which Christ has given us.   Part of Christ's mission is also the training of His disciples who will become His apostles, saints upon whose work the Church will be established and expanded.  Let us call upon all these resources for ourselves, for influence and guidance in our lives.  We will follow our own "business" as we are directed, and call upon the community which He has established for us.  Let us keep to what we are to be about, as He does, and stay focused on the mission, through all things.

I know who You are -- the Holy One of God!

 Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths.  And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.  Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon.  And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Let us alone!  What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth?  Did You come to destroy us?  I know who You are -- the Holy One of God!"  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"  And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him.  Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, "What a word this is!  For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."  And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

- Luke 4:31-37

Yesterday we read that after His time of temptation,  Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.  And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.  So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up.  And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.  And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah.  And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:  "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."  Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down.  And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.  And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."  So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.  And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?"  He said to them, "You will surely say this proverb to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself!  Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.'"  Then He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.  But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.  And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elish the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."  So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.  Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths.  My study bible cites the commentary of St. Ambrose of Milan here, who writes that Jesus begins preaching and healing on the Sabbaths to show that "the new creation began where the old creation ceased."

And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.  The prophets of the past and also the teachers contemporaneous with Christ spoke and taught in the third person ("The Lord says"), or cited the opinions of famous rabbis in their teaching.  But Christ teaches in the first person, with authority ("I say to you").

Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon.  And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Let us alone!  What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth?  Did You come to destroy us?  I know who You are -- the Holy One of God!"  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"  And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him.  Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, "What a word this is!  For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."  And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.  Jesus tells the demon to Be quiet!  Traditional commentators see this as evidence of His reluctance to fully disclose His identity as Messiah, which was foreseen by Isaiah (Isaiah 42:1-4).  My study bible cites the reasons for secrecy as including the growing hostility of the Jewish leadership; the people's misunderstanding of the Messiah as an earthly, political leader; and finally our Lord's desire to evoke genuine faith which is not based solely on marvelous signs. 

 Witness statements are something we may wish to reflect a lot about, given today's news headlines.  What is the truth?  How do we know the truth?  This will always be a relevant and important subject for discussion.  In today's reading, the demons give voice to the truth of Jesus' identity.  "I know who You are -- the Holy One of God!"   You might think that perhaps Jesus would like others to know His identity, but this is not how things go.  This is not appropriate.  In fact, it is against His purpose and the outpouring of the Spirit that enables this ministry.  Jesus comes into the world to call us to faith through the truth of His work, teaching, and actions, through the relatedness we can find in our hearts to the truth of who He is.  What is the point of the demonic intervention or interaction in today's reading?  These voices come from a mysterious counterpart to our waking world, our consciousness of what life is all about.  Their origins are hidden from us.  And yet, something has happened to show us that Jesus comes from this realm and commands in this realm.  They know and fear His power over them.  It is a revelation that gives us a taste of something more beyond what we know.  But it is not through the medium of spirits and demons that Christ wishes to be revealed.  There is a truth more powerful at work here, and it is the truth of God the Father at work in this ministry, the truth of the Holy Spirit who made the Incarnation possible.  It is the truth of the Son who is sent to us out of love for us.  This is not about psychic revelation, but about the love of God in the heart that reveals something to us.  It is about a depth of response of which we as human beings are capable.  It is about a kind of response to truth that does not come with any form of conventional observation or proof.  It is, rather, a truth that is behind the surface of all things -- and is often hidden and shadowed by what people consider to be obvious.  Jesus does not want our awe at spectacle, nor our fear at the demons.  He calls us to faith, which is something quite different altogether.  Think about what faith challenges in us, what it asks us to confront and to go through in our lives.  Faith asks us to make choices, to be not simply alert and aware but discerning, not to take things at face value but to test everything.  Faith asks us for a kind of awareness that is about our very consciousness and sensitivity to the things that count, the character forged through walking this difficult and not easy path, and a confidence and dependence upon God's love as the bedrock of all.  Don't let the voices of the mob rule your mind; seek the place of private time with God, as Christ teaches (Matthew 6:6).  Call upon the saints for help with prayer, and find the peace you need for faith, in the heart.

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord

 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.  And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up.  And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.  And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah.  And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down.  And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.  And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."  So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.  And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?"  He said to them, "You will surely say this proverb to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself!  Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.'"  Then He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.  But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.  And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elish the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."  So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.  Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way. 

- Luke 4:14-30

Yesterday we read that after Jesus' Baptism,  He, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil.  And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.  And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."  But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'"  Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.  Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours."  And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan!"  For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"  Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here.  For it is written:  'He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"  And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'"  Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.

 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.  And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.  The text tells us about Jesus' spreading ministry in Galilee, and His growing fame.

 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up.  And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.  And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah.  And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:  "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor;  He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed . . . "  As Christ is the eternal Son of God, He did not become the world's anointed Savior, my study bible says, but rather He has always been our Savior from before the foundation of the world.  It was Christ who spoke through Isaiah, who writes, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me" (Isaiah 61:1).  We note that Christ does not say that "the Spirit of the Lord has come upon Me."  When the Spirit of the Lord descended upon Jesus at the Baptism (3:22), this was a sign that revealed an eternal, not temporal, truth to the people.

" . . . To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."  The time of the Incarnation is the acceptable year of the Lord, when the Kingdom of heaven has come to earth (see 2 Corinthians 6:2).

 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down.  And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.  And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."  So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.  And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?"  He said to them, "You will surely say this proverb to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself!  Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.'"  Then He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.  But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.  And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elish the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."  So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.  Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.   My study bible notes that the double response to Christ of both marveling and rejection occurs frequently in those who encounter Him (see 11:14-16; John 9:16).  Being rejected in His own country fulfills the rejection of the Old Testament prophets such as Elijah and Elisha, whom Jesus mentions, and foreshadows the rejection that is to come by the whole nation at His trial before Pilate (John 19:14-15).  Christ accepts death in accordance with the will of the Father, not at the will of the leaders of the Jews.  Here, the hour of Christ's Passion has not yet come (see John 8:20).

Christ is rejected in His hometown.  His words make them angry.  He simply won't reproduce miracles and marvels and signs they've heard happening elsewhere in Galilee on demand.  He refuses to "prove" that He is Messiah.  The people are indignant and incredulous.  How can this be the same person that they remember and know as the son of Joseph?  But He anticipates their demands, and He won't produce the signs they've heard about which have happened elsewhere.  Instead, He goes even further, and reminds them Elijah and Elisha weren't believed in their own country either, and were sent instead to Gentiles to give their signs from God.  It's as if, from the beginning, Jesus is aware of the pattern of rejection He is going to face, and He's prepared for the ministry that lies ahead of Him.  Predictably, the people respond with outrage; so much so, that they wish to throw Him off a cliff.  This won't be the only time that Jesus avoids death at the hands of those whom He's outraged, strangely "passing through the midst of them" (see, for example, John 8:59).  The Gospels give us an understanding that somehow there is a process happening which, despite the free will choices all have to accept or reject Christ, is unfolding in which the "hour" of His death -- which He calls His glorification -- is already known.  Things will unfold in a particular way.  Jesus' deep psychological understanding of those with whom He comes into contact reflects this awareness of human thoughts and responses.  Yet He presses through, because the message He brings and the ministry that is His is more important than pleasing and convincing His audience.  He has a truth to tell, to bring into the world, and that truth means more than persuasion.  It must be presented a certain way, and the choices that people make in response to Him must reach into the heart, beyond a point of mere outrage or initial emotional feelings.  It is those who can reach to that place of reckoning who will find faith in Him.  In our lives, to make good decisions, we're asked to reach beyond the conventional and accepted, and to find that place where real faith dwells.  It's a place that's like a bedrock in the heart, and yet so elusive.  It comes to us perhaps in single moments that suddenly stand apart from conventional awareness and experience of waking life.  It is a place that may be hidden deeply in the heart.  But it is with the spiritual eyes and ears capable of receiving that we suddenly are in that place of faith -- and this moment of understanding is one that occurs despite everything else going on around us and the visceral emotional cues we may receive from others.  Jesus wants that kind of faith, the faith that takes root deep in the good soil of a heart that's ready to hear that truth (see the Parable of the Sower, Matthew 13:1-23).  We should ask ourselves if that is the place we want to find and cultivate as well.  That's the place where He asks us to plant a seed that bears fruit, and continues to do so throughout our lives.  It's what He will ultimately sacrifice His life for.   Jesus quotes Isaiah, saying that the Spirit of the Lord has come to send Him to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.  These are those who hearts desire the wealth of spiritual riches He presents, whose broken hearts call for the balm of God's grace, whose freedom is only found in spiritual liberty, whose blindness cries for spiritual sight.  This is the proclamation of the acceptable year of the Lord, for all of us who recognize our need for what He gives, and truly desire what He has to offer.   Christ's mission establishes once and for all time, for all of us, that this acceptable year is always here and now.

If You are the Son of God

 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil.  And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.  And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."  But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'"

Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.  Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours."  And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan!"  For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"

Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here.  For it is written:

'He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you,'

"and,

'In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"

And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'"  Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.

- Luke 4:1-13

Yesterday we read that as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire."  And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.  But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.  When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.  And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."

 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil.  This exodus of Jesus into the wilderness is characterized by my study bible as having a dual symbolism.  It first of all fulfills the Old Testament type, in which Israel journeyed in the wilderness for forty years after its "baptism" in the Red Sea.  Second, it prefigures our own journey through the fallen world after baptism as we struggle towards the Kingdom.  We're met and faced with all of our own temptations as part of the struggle of faith.

And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.  And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."  But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'"  The "type" from the Old Testament continues here, with Jesus in a sense reversing Israel's falling to temptation in the wilderness.  Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy 8:2-5, in which it is explained that the Israelites, who were tested forty years in the wilderness, first were allowed to go hungry and then were fed with manna to learn greater dependence upon God.  Jesus meets each temptation by the devil with quotations from Scripture.  My study bible tells us that this teaches us to become immersed in Scripture to resist and drive away temptation (see Psalm 119:11).   Jesus fasted in order to overcome temptation, which gives us an example of our own power and limitations in the face of temptation.  His hunger doesn't control Him, but He controls His impulses.  Christ's fast of forty days is the foundation of the forty-day period of Lent, traditionally a time of fasting.  We note here the devil's challenge is regarding Christ's relationship to the Father, calling into question the Father's declaration at Jesus' Baptism ("You are My beloved Son" - see yesterday's reading, above).   This is an attempt to push Jesus to act independently of the will of the Father.   In His divine nature, Christ shares this will with the Father and the Holy Spirit; He can do nothing of Himself apart from the Father (John 5:30).  However, in His humanity Christ possesses free will as do the rest of us, and He must choose to remain obedient to the divine will of the Father.  Through His action, Christ reverses the fall of Adam.  He is the new Adam who, rather than sacrificing the word to follow the passions of the body (Genesis 3), conquers temptation by the divine word.  In so doing, He gives human nature the power to conquer Satan.

Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.  Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours."  And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan!"  For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"    Here the temptation for Christ is worldly authority, power, and glory.  Note that the devil says that all this authority has been delivered to him, and he gives it to whomever he wishes.  But he commands worship in order to secure the bargain.  Jesus reverses the order that Satan desires, telling him, Get behind Me.  He quotes from Deuteronomy 6:13.  My study bible notes that the devil is the "ruler of this world" (John 12:31), "the god of this age" (2 Corinthians 4:4), as the whole world is in his sway (1 John 5:19).  There is only one way to liberate the world from the "strong man" Satan, and this will happen through Christ's saving mission serving the Father (see Mark 3:22-27).

Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here.  For it is written:  'He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"  And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'"  Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.  My study bible says that, seeing that Christ had defeated him through the power of the Scriptures, Satan vainly tries to use the Scriptures (Psalm 91:11-12) to put God's power of protection to the test.  (See also 2 Peter 1:19-21).  Christ quotes His response from Deuteronomy 6:16, again referencing the time of Israel's testing.  My study bible says that trials and temptations come on their own; we should not intentionally expose ourselves to danger in order to test or prove God's protection.  To do so is to tempt the Lord.  We note that the devil departs at this stage, but only until an opportune time.

How do your temptations come to you?  Jesus' experience during His time of testing lays out for us a basic understanding of the things that will tempt us to choose between submitting our own human will to God, and pursuing what really looks good to us -- or the things it seems that the world chases after.  We might take the first temptation at face value and suspect that it's just about food, but it really isn't at all.  The temptation is first of all about the relationship that Christ has to the Father.  The devil calls into question Christ's relationship to God, taunting, "If You are the Son of God . . ."   Just as my study bible pointed out in yesterday's reading that we are all sons of God by adoption (male and female both), so that also applies here.  Are we truly the child of God?  Is God our Father?  Why then do we so often feel absolutely helpless, and worry that our prayers aren't answered properly?  These are temptations to drive us away from faith.  The next temptation in Luke's Gospel is also about power and authority, and its worldly glory.  We are all subject to the glories of the world, the great modern "kingdoms" as we look around ourselves at modern day trappings of wealth, empire, power, authority, and even worldly glory.  We can't possibly escape from it unless we unplug and move somewhere far away from a city or town.  But the question here isn't just about acquisition, it's about exchanging one God for another false god.  The devil promises Christ all of this worldly stuff of power and glory, but there's just one price:  Jesus will have to worship the devil.  And so we might find such a bargain offered us.  What do we put all our effort in life to serve?  What counts first?   "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also," Christ says (Matthew 6:21), another warning that what we put first is what we serve and worship.  This is the way the human heart functions, whether we think so or not.  It is the heart of worldly temptation to give up that prime relationship to God, the basic choice we're offered.  The final temptation here in today's reading is again a questioning of that basic relationship to God, and starts with "If You are the Son of God . . ." once again.  But this time it's to test God's love for the Son, and may enter into our lives as a question about whether or not God really does love us.  Sometimes reckless behavior is simply that, a way to test God, to see if we'll be "saved."    But it's not our job to put God to the test.   Running as a thread through each temptation is the notion that God's Kingdom asks us to enter in a particular way, and does not work through the worldly understanding of power and glory.  The most holy among us may be the most humble (and quite often is) and not the persons we tend to admire for conspicuous achievement and position.  What we want and desire may have nothing to do with what God knows is truly best for us.  It's a question of exchanging one notion of kingdom and all that goes with it (power, glory, acquisition, place, esteem, security) for another, and putting our hearts into that choice.  Ultimately, we come up against a question of whether or not we know God's love for us, for surely that must lead the way in making the choice.  Who's going to love you best?  What feeds the heart?   To answer that question honestly may ask of us a great deal of sacrifice - even of worldly honor and approval in all possible forms.  For the stories of the early martyrs, that even meant the sacrifice of family and parental approval.  Are we willing to face that temptation?  Do we understand what a test is?  Jesus goes to the wilderness and fasts.  In His temptations, He's taken to a high mountain, and even the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem.  Whether your desert is in a canyon of Wall Street, the pinnacle of the most glorious building you know, or the high mountain of dazzling possibilities and dreams, we're all going to find ourselves at some time in this same place of testing.  How will we know how to choose but through the heart and God's love?  If someone asks you for worship as the price of a great worldly reward, think about Christ's choice.  Christ will defeat Satan through a sacrificial love, and so may we be called to do as well.

You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased

 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire." 

And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.  But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison. 

When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.  And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."

- Luke 3:15-22

In yesterday's reading, we were given the introduction of Luke, and then started upon the third chapter:   Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. * * * Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.  And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:  "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:  'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.  Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"  Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.'  For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.  And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees.  Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."  So the people asked him, saying, "What shall we do then?"  He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."  Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"  And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed for you."  Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?"  So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages." 

Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire."   My study bible explains here that fire in this context has the primary meaning of the gift of the Holy Spirit.  This is given to the world at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).   It moreover declares the judgment of Christ, in which the faithless will burn (see 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; 2:8).  We note that this fire, seemingly with cross-purposes, is one.  It is the same Power and the same Spirit that both enlivens the faithful and destroys the faithless. 

And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.  But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.  Herod had divorced his own wife, and then married his brother Philip's wife Herodias, while Philip was still living.  This John the Baptist says is against the Mosaic law.  We note that the text says Herod was also rebuked by John for all the evils which Herod had done.  The crowning evil is to shut John up in prison.

 When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.  And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."  My study bible notes that Jesus does not need baptism.  But in being baptized, Christ accomplishes several things:  He affirms John's ministry; He is revealed by the Father and the Holy Spirit to be the Christ, God's beloved Son; He identifies with His people by descending into the waters with them; HE prefigures His won death, giving baptism its ultimate meaning; He enters the waters, sanctifying the water itself; He fulfills the many "types" which are given in the Old Testament, such as when Moses led the people from bondage through the Red Sea (Exodus 14) and when the ark of the covenant was carried into the Jordan so that the people could enter the Promised Land (Joshua 3; 4); and finally, Christ opens heaven to a world that is separated from God through sin.  In the Eastern Church, this Baptism is celebrated on January 6th, and it is commonly known as Epiphany, or Theophany, which means "God revealed."  The Son is revealed by the descent of the Holy Spirit and the voice of the Father.  Therefore this is the greatest and clearest manifestation of God as Trinity in the history of human beings.  My study bible adds that the words which are spoken by the Father apply to everyone who is baptized and lives faithful, as sonship is bestowed by adoption (Galatians 4:4-7).  The Holy Spirit appearing as dove is not a type of incarnation, but is rather a visible sign for the people.  It is furthermore a fulfillment of the type prefigured at the Flood.  Theophylact comments, "Just as a dove announced to Noah that God's wrath had ceased, so too the Holy Spirit announces here that Christ has reconciled us to God by sweeping sin away in the flood waters of baptism."

In the commentary on Christ's Baptism, we can read how the Church has historically viewed the life of Christ.  His life and ministry reflect moments already known in Jewish spiritual history, given to us in the Scriptures of the Old Testament.  The New is therefore a reflection and fulfillment of the Old.  In other words, the God who spoke to the Hebrews and guided the people is manifest in Christ.  Indeed, Christ is called Lord as He is the Lord of the Old Testament.  John's Gospel reveals this to us when Jesus makes the statement, "Before Abraham was, I AM" (see John 8:58).   The Lord is the commonly used term for the name God reveals to Moses when God declares God's name to be "I AM" (Exodus 3:14).  But the Baptism gives us more understanding of this God.  It gives us God the Trinity:  Christ is revealed as Son via the voice of the Father declaring Him so, and the Holy Spirit appears as a dove, also giving us a sense of God speaking to us or giving messages, just as the dove was a sign of the end of the Flood (Genesis 8:6-12).  It is an announcement of God's reconciliation with human beings.  It is important that we understand this historical way in which the Bible has been read from the earliest times of the Church.  Indeed, the New Testament did not exist at the time the Church was born, but is a "Book of the Church."  It was compiled by the Church, its books selected as canonical, and taking on the form in which we know it in the late 4th century.  The Gospels were written in the 1st century.  Therefore what we understand in the development of the Church is that the Scriptures which the earliest faithful had were the Old Testament Scriptures, read in worship services from the beginning.   It is most important that we look at the stories of Christ's life not simply as histories or anthropological, historical sources for information about Jesus, but in the ways that the Church understood them:  God manifest among us, the God of the Scriptures that existed before Christ was born.  These reflections and echoes of events of the Old Testament are called "types".  They teach us that Christ is the fullness of something, the manifestation of prophesy, that which was glimpse and foreshadowed.  He brings us the fullness of truths that had been grasped at, prefigured, understood, and now more fully revealed (see Matthew 13:16-17).  It is in this way that we need to see the Trinity manifest in the Baptism, of the purpose of Christ's ministry in the world as that which will flesh out truths reached for, cloaked in the worship of the temple and awaiting further revelation.   Christ is found in the light of the pillar of fire that led the Israelites through the darkness (Exodus 13:21-22) and in the "living water" flowing from the rock struck by Moses (Numbers 20:2-11).  The Scripture gives us the truth of the presence of God and God's reaching toward us.  It opens us to the communion we need, the understanding of God at work in the world reaching to us and seeking a place in our lives and our love.  There is no other way to read Scripture but one which must include all the meanings which may be present for us here.  Let us gather what God has given us in beauty and poetry, reflection and wisdom, because it has all been given from God's love and desire for us.

Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

St. Luke writes his Gospel (with Holy Spirit as dove), Armenian Illuminated Manuscript, Monastery of  Hromkla, 1166

 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

* * *

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.  And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough ways smooth;
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"

Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.'  For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.  And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees.  Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."  So the people asked him, saying, "What shall we do then?"  He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."  Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"  And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed for you."  Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?"  So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages." 

- Luke (1:1-4), 3:1-14

On Saturday we read that Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me.  And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.   I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.  And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.  He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him -- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.  For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.  And I know that His command is everlasting life."

 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.  In the ways in which the Gospels work throughout the changing of the lectionary, we get a strange kind of synthesis between Saturday's reading and today's.  On Saturday, Jesus spoke of Judgment, clearly indicating not only the time of the end of His ministry, but the time of the true eschatological end of all things of this world.  He has come to save the world, but His words will be that by which we are judged in terms of our own acceptance or rejection of them.  Today we begin reading from Luke.  It's quite a contrast:  Luke is very careful to set down all things in an orderly way, and to couch his Gospel in historical facts, time and place settings.  He was not a disciple from the beginning, but he writes that he has perfect understanding of the gospel message as his sources are the apostles themselves, the eyewitnesses of Christ.  Luke wrote his Gospel to Theophilus, who was a prominent Gentile who had received Christian instruction (see also Acts 1:1).  St. Ambrose comments that the name Theophilus can mean any "lover of God.  Therefore, he says, "If you love God, it was written for you."

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.  Luke sets down very carefully the setting of his Gospel in its historical time and place, noting the rulers and the high priests.  Herod and Philip have succeeded their father, Herod the Great, while Pontius Pilate is governor of Judea.   Caiaphas at this point is sole high priest, but people also recognized the continuing power of his father-in-law Annas, a previous high priest who was deposed by the Romans.

And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins . . .  John the Baptist's call to repentance was a traditional one for prophets.  His baptism did not grant remission of sins once and for all, but was a prefiguration and preparation for the baptism of Christ which was to come (see Romans 6:3-11).  My study bible says that John is a figure of the Law in that, like the law, he denounced sin but could not remit (literally to "put away") sin.  Both John and the Law point to the One who can remit sin.

. . . as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:  "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:  'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.  Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"  John the Baptist ascribes to himself this role of the voice crying in the wilderness (prophesied by Isaiah) in John 1:23.

 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.'  For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.  And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees.  Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."  So the people asked him, saying, "What shall we do then?"  He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."  Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"  And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed for you."  Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?"  So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages."  My study bible comments here that while parents and ancestors help impart piety and holiness, ancestry itself does not make one worthy of God.  Each person in every generation must bear fruits worthy of repentance.  Stones, it says, symbolize the Gentiles who would become children to Abraham through faith in Christ (Romans 4:16-18).  John gives them a formula for righteousness in preparation for the Messiah.  But when Christ comes, grace and truth will make an immeasurable difference to our understanding of righteousness. 

John gives a warning in today's reading:  "Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."  Interestingly, in Matthew's Gospel, John gives the same warning, which is later repeated by Jesus when He preaches in the Sermon on the Mount about false prophets, wolves in sheep's clothing (see Matthew 3:10, 7:15-20).  And in Matthew's Gospel, the words, "Brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" are clearly directed at the leadership who come from Jerusalem.  The term brood of vipers is again repeated by Jesus in reference to the religious leaders.  (See Matthew 3:7, 12:34, 23:33.)  We can hear the outrage, the response to what is clearly considered to be scandalous behavior on the part of the religious leaders at this time.  The fact that Luke tells us (via John the Baptist) that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones should tell us something about the gospel going out to the rest of the world and being taken away from those who have failed to heed the word of God.  Indeed, John the Baptist says, "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.'"   In John's Gospel, in which we've been reading recently until today, this is precisely what the leaders say to Jesus.  Jesus replies to them, "If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham" (see John 8:39).  Clearly there is something at work in these scenes that reflect this theme.  John warns of the fire that awaits the trees that do not bear good fruit.  This is a time of expectation, of the return of the Messiah, widely watched and hoped for by the people.  But it is also a time, tellingly, of corruption and greed, of distrust of those leaders who are meant to care for this flock and insure spiritual heritage of the Jewish people.  John comes bearing warnings as prophet, speaking about making the path straight for the expected Messiah, who will surely fill every valley, bring low every mountain and hill, make straight all the crooked places and make smooth all the rough ways.  What is he telling us here?   What is the meaning of this?  The Messiah is the great leveler.  Whatever is crooked, or depends upon position for advantage, whatever is rough -- all of it will be removed as obstacle for this straight path of the Lord.  In His judgment to come, there will be no standing on ancestry or position or coveted place before the world and the "praise of men" (see John 12:43, in Friday's reading).  Ceremony and inheritance won't count, and surely as John the Baptist warns in today's reading, anything gained through cheating and corruption and dishonest, unrighteous behavior.  It is the Word who is coming, and as we read on Saturday, it is every word that proceeds from His mouth that is given by the Father, those words and commands themselves will be the judgment.   If you see corruption and dishonesty, unfairness and unrighteous behavior around yourself, a disregard for justice, know that Christ's words are this judgment that is present and at work in the world.  It is all about what we can hear and what we are simply deaf and blind to.  The Holy Spirit, the breath of God, remains active in the world, a gift of grace and truth.  We heed the words of John and understand the One who makes all things straight and level, and cherish the words we're given, living them in faith, and in response to times like these which are always with us.  God is working, and so is the word of the Son, and the Holy Spirit (John 5:17). 

I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness

 Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me.  And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.   I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.  And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.  He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him -- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.  For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.  And I know that His command is everlasting life."

- John 12:44-50

Yesterday we read that Jesus taught:  "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."  These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.  But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:  "Lord, who has believed our report?  And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"  Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:  "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them."  These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.  Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

 Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me.  And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.   I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness."   Again, John's Gospel repeatedly goes to themes of light and darkness, echoing from its Prologue:  "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it"  (1:4,5).  This light is the light of the Father; Christ is "Light of Light, true God of true God" (Nicene Creed). 

"And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.  He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him -- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day."  My study bible says here that Christ does not judge with favoritism or partiality.  Rather, it notes, He has spoken the words of life, words of love  forgiveness, repentance, virtue, and mercy.  Christ's words will be the standard by which all people are judged on the last day. 

"For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.  And I know that His command is everlasting life."   If the Father's command is everlasting life, then to reject the words given as command is to reject that everlasting life. 

Christ says that He does not judge.  These words are important; there are so many different ideas about just what Judgment means.  But what He tells us is illuminating in terms of how this judgment works.  It is the words given by God which are themselves everlasting life.  Therefore, if one rejects those words, those commands, then one rejects that life that is offered.  From the earliest chapters of John's Gospel, this rejection leading to judgment has been implied.  In chapter 3, Jesus tells Nicodemus:  "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God" (3:17-21).  What is the name of the only begotten Son of God?  Why does Christ use this terminology?  The name is an extension of the person -- He is again speaking of something akin to the commands given as the words of the Father He is told to speak.   These words are like rays of light, coming from the true source of light.  To reject that light is to live in darkness.  If the rays of light are rejected, then the source of the light is also rejected.  Through the Holy Spirit, we also receive God's words at work in the world.  God's energies have often been likened to the rays of light from the sun.  We do not experience God in God's full presence, just as we cannot dwell on the sun.  But we can receive its light and live in that light, knowing that this light is the support for all life in our world and that without it there will be no life.  So it is with the "name" of God, the things which we are capable of receiving, in which we truly are offered a gift and so we make a choice for ourselves.  In these words are the light of life; Christ says they are everlasting life.  So let us understand what it means to reject His words, to turn our backs on them, and what we reject when we do so.  It is important to know those words come from love, and are spoken through love.  The real question is why one would reject that love.

Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

 "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."  These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:

"Lord, who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"

Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:

"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
Lest they should see with their eyes,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them."

These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.

Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

- John 12:36-43

In yesterday's reading, Jesus said, "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say?  'Father, save Me from this hour'?  But for this purpose I came to this hour.  Father, glorify Your name."  Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again."  Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered.  Others said, "An angel has spoken to Him."  Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.  Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.  And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."  This He said, signifying by what death He would die.  The people answered Him, "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'?  Who is this Son of Man?"  Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you.  Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.  While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."  These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

 "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."  These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.  Jesus gives us an opportunity, to behold His light, to believe in the light, and to become sons of light.  Here this is said directly to those who know Him and encounter Him in His Incarnation, as human being.  They have Him but a little while.  They have the opportunity to engage and believe and grow in the light while He is with them, and it will be for only a short time longer.

But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:  "Lord, who has believed our report?  And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"  John gives us the first verse of Isaiah chapter 53, one in which Isaiah speaks his prophesy of the Suffering Servant.  It is worthwhile to read the entire beautiful chapter, as we can see that it is clearly the prophesy of Jesus Christ.  The Gospel emphasizes that although Jesus clearly fulfills this prophesy, as Isaiah asks the question, so does the life of Christ at this point:  "Lord, who has believed our report?  And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"

Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:  "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them."  These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.  My study bible cites St. John Chrysostom, who comments that Isaiah's prophecy (Isaiah 6:10) does not mean that God causes spiritual blindness in people who would otherwise have been faithful.  It notes that this is a figure of speech common to Scripture which reveals God as giving people up to their own devices (as in Romans 1:24-26).  By the phrase "He has blinded their eyes" Isaiah means that God has permitted their self-chosen blindness (compare Exodus 8:15, 32 with Exodus 10:20, 27).  They didn't become blind because God spoke through Isaiah; rather Isaiah spoke because he foresaw their blindness.  To behold and to comprehend Christ's light is to be healed; to fail to perceive is to fail to be healed.  Isaiah saw His [Christ's] glory in about 700 BC (Isaiah 6:1) and spoke of Him in many places through the entirety of his full prophecy. 

 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.  St. Chrysostom comments that these rulers are in reality the worst of slaves, because they are enslaved by the opinions of men.  This keeps them from leading as God would have them lead.

How sad to find faith but to be afraid to express it, as one prefers the "praise of men more than the praise of God."  What would this mean for us today?  There are many who find faith in times of darkness and uncertainty.  Alone with our troubles, we may find ourselves turning to God.  But what happens when we are around people who would chastise our faith or ridicule it?  The Gospel is not asking us to sacrifice our lives by speaking out among those who do not care and would not profit from our faith, but it is asking us to make a choice.  It goes much farther than that, and suggests to us that the whole of our well-being depends upon this choice.  Isaiah's prophecy teaches us about the healing that is possible with God.  In my experience, faith brings us to a place where we can recognize what healing we need.  These men are unlikely to recognize their own lack of faith and the true need of the soul.  All of us have needs of the soul that are sadly neglected by simply the social life we are usually offered.  These needs are found deep within us, and particularly in prayer or meditation.  They require not only that we be able to be very honest with ourselves to sense what may be lacking, but also that we detach enough from social concerns so that we can even listen to the place within that needs more than just a satisfying social position, and more than material needs.  Psychologically we may find that we need help with healing any part of our lives in which we may suffer from imperfect love.  But to recognize this need is again something that takes honesty, courage, and the time to accept that there is something greater that calls us to acknowledge such need.  There is the place we come to healing through faith in this Gospel of love as told by John.  St. Chrysostom speaks of slavery -- the worst kind of slavery -- as that through which we give up our faith in succumbing to the opinions of others.  Why should we exchange our full well-being for standing in the eyes of the world, for false opinions, for those who don't love us as does God?  Let us consider today what we are willing to exchange for the depth of healing and help Christ offers us in a highly imperfect world.

Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself

 "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say?  'Father, save Me from this hour'?  But for this purpose I came to this hour.  Father, glorify Your name."  Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again."  Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered.  Others said, "An angel has spoken to Him."  Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.  Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.  And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."  This He said, signifying by what death He would die.  The people answered Him, "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'?  Who is this Son of Man?"  Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you.  Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.  While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."  These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

- John 12:27-36a

Yesterday we read that there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the Passover feast.  Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."  Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.  But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.  Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.  He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also.  If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor."

"Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say?  'Father, save Me from this hour'?  But for this purpose I came to this hour.  Father, glorify Your name."  Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again."  Jesus' words illustrate both His human and the divine natures.  As a human being, Jesus says that His soul is troubled, as He knows what is coming.  But according to His divine nature, His will is subservient to the purposes of the Father.  The Father's name, my study bible says, is an extension of His Person.  The Son's death completes the purpose of the Father and shows His love for all, thereby glorifying Him.  Christ accepts for the Father to lead Him to the Cross.  God the Father's response refers to the signs already performed by Christ and to the death and Resurrection to come.

Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered.  Others said, "An angel has spoken to Him."  Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake."  My study bible comments here that although the Father spoke clearly, some people heard indistinct sounds like thunder because they lacked faith.  Those with a little faith heard the words but did not know the source, thinking that it was an angel.  The disciples knew that the Father Himself had spoken, as Jesus addresses them by saying the voice came "for your sake."

"Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.  And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."  This He said, signifying by what death He would die.   Lifted up is Christ's reference to the Cross (see also 3:14-15; 8:28).  He says that His death will not only bring salvation to all peoples, but unmistakably that it will render judgment on this world -- destroying the power of the ruler of this world, Satan.

The people answered Him, "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'?  Who is this Son of Man?"  Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you.  Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.  While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."  These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.  The light refers to Christ, and this reflects a repeated theme in John's Gospel (1:4-9; 8:12).  My study bible says that Christ's teaching here has several facets of meaning.  First, that He will be shortly completing His public ministry.  Moreover, our lives are very limited; we have a short time to repent and believe in Christ before death.  Finally, the second coming of Christ is only a little while when compared to eternity. 

As we come closer to the Crucifixion, the time of choice becomes more stark, more clear.  Jesus now brings up Judgment:  "the judgment of this world," as He puts it.   As Jesus is lifted up on the Cross, the Crucifixion somehow asks us to make a decision.  Moreover the judgment is against "the ruler of this world," the one who would truly desire to bring about the death of Christ and in so doing feel that somehow His message of spiritual liberation would be lost.  The Cross becomes not only the symbol of salvation, but the means whereby we are set free from the this "strong man" who would keep us captive (Matthew 12:29-30).  In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught, "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also.  If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor."  It's a question of what we put first, and what we are willing to choose when faced with the dilemma of following Him or allowing something to which we cling to stop us from going where He asks us to go.  Jesus, as any human being, loves His life in this world.  But as Son, He goes where He must go and does what He must do to lead the way.  In this sense He is "lifted up" for us, in order to gather all to Him, and to cast out in judgment the ruler of this world.  How is this important for you today?  Are there things you need to "cast out" in order to better follow Christ?  Is there something you need to face?  These choices, as also exemplified in the Cross, are not simple and easy.  We come up against hard choices, relationships we cherish, personal habits we take pleasure or pride in, customs we're told are essential, and we need to be willing to find His way, a different way, a future that we don't yet know as we follow Him further along down that road.  Often that future is on the other side of the Cross.  What does this mean for you?  How will you be set free from the strong man of this world for a better Leader?

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain

 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast.  Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."  Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.  But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.  Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.  He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also.  If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor."

- John 12:20-26

Yesterday we read that a great many of the Jews knew that Jesus was at the home of Lazarus in Bethany; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.  But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.  The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:  "Hosanna!  'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'  The King of Israel!"  Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:  "Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey's colt." His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.  Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness.  For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign.    The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing.  Look, the world has gone after Him!"

Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast.  Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."  Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.   But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified."  These Greeks are Gentiles from abroad, Greek-speakers (for Greek was the "international language" of this time), who believe in the God of Abraham.  They have come to participate in the Passover feast.  My study bible says that as they are still called Greeks it shows that they were not yet full proselytes, or converts.  Jesus had taught His disciples not to go to the Gentiles (Matthew 10:5; 15:24), and so Philip and Andrew approach Him before bringing them to Him.  When Jesus speaks of the hour in which He should be glorified, He's speaking of His death on the Cross.   My study bible says that this obscure response indicates two things:  First, that the answer these Greeks are seeking will not be found in words, but rather on the Cross; and secondly, that the Cross will be the event that opens all manner of grace to the Gentiles.

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.  He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also.  If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor."  My study bible tells us that the image of a grain of wheat dying in order to bear fruit signifies that Christ's death will give life to the world.  In the Armenian Apostolic Church, this passage is read at every memorial service for the departed.  In many Orthodox churches, whole grains of wheat are sweetened and spiced and given out at memorial services, to affirm God's promise that those who died in Christ will rise again to life.

Somehow the Greek speakers, Gentiles coming and wishing to see Jesus, have triggered this important revelation of Christ, that it is His hour to be glorified -- to go to the Cross.  We are reminded of His revelation of Himself to a foreigner, the Samaritan woman, in chapter 4.  Greek is the international language of the world at this time, and the Gospels will be written in Greek as their original language, so that all the world will be able to know about Jesus.  It is the language of commerce in the wider world, and also in Bethsaida of Galilee, where Philip is from, as text mentions.  There is a poetic kind of paradox here that exemplifies so much about Christ's ministry and teachings, in that this is the language of the outsider.  For the Jews, it means the language of those at the edges, the margins, the foreigners, the pagans, and the frowned-upon minorities who are seen as inferior.  But this Gospel that will go to the whole world will gather many followers.  It "will produce much grain," as Jesus puts it.  And so, in the effects of this ministry, the outsiders become the insiders, the marginalized will be the many, while the insiders who don't believe will eventually be scattered.  This is something that reflects a spiritual pattern we can read of God's action throughout the Bible.  We can see this reflected, even culminated, in the song of Mary, from Luke chapter 1 (Luke 1:46-55).  Mary's song is also reflective of themes found earlier in the songs of women and in the Psalms.  Mary sings of herself as one in a lowly state, who will be called blessed henceforth by all generations.  God her Savior is One who has "scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts," "put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly."  It is Christ who, throughout His ministry, has ministered to the marginalized, the destitute, those who are blighted in some way such as paralysis or blindness or leprosy -- all individuals in some way on the periphery and frequently separated from community.  Now in today's reading He speaks of His death as planting a seed of grain, which can only give much more grain if it falls to the ground and dies.  And so it will spread to all the Greek-speaking world, the world that had been conquered by Alexander, which at that time meant the world spanning from the shores of the Mediterranean to India, across the Middle East.  Furthermore, trade and commerce assured that the Greek language was spoken across the known world at the time.  In the form of the Septuagint (the 3rd-2nd century BC Greek translation of the Old Testament, the version quoted by Christ in the Greek New Testament), the entire Hebrew bible will therefore also be spread to the known world.  In all of these ways, we can consider the Greeks who come to find Christ at the Passover a sign that the hour of His glorification is near, and His prophecy of the grain of wheat will be fulfilled.  Jesus' ministry is one of taking up outsiders so that they are included in community.  The disciples themselves do not come from illustrious or noble backgrounds.  Most are uneducated.  But with the coming of the Holy Spirit, they will be shown to be "wisest of all" as eventually the Hellenistic world will come to see them.  What we should consider is this action of God in the world, the One who lifts up the lowly and casts down the proud.   The Cross, instrument of dread and fear and crushing symbol of absolute worldly power, will become the greatest symbol of transformation and rebirth, salvation and liberation for all.  We are always reminded of the surprising power of Christ, and the resurrection power in the image of the grain that dies in order to give birth to many.   It is He who creates community.  Let us consider this action in our own lives, then, when we find ourselves in need of community, or even of a reminder to our need for humility.  What does His resurrectional power mean to you?  What needs to be fallen to the ground in preparation for that harvest in your life?