14/02/2010 - 6TH. SUNDAY IN ORDINARY SEASON - C
I Reading Jer 17,5-8 Psalm 11 Cor 15,12.16-20 II Reading Gospel Lk 6,17.20-26
"I have made known your name to the ones you gave me in the world". Jesus
continues to speak to the Father with the trust of a Son and the freedom of a friend.
Now he brings his life mission together: not to pride upon, even though he seems
to like it: he does it only so that his disciples can know it. It is strange how
he does not even refer to the many great miracles he did, or for the big crowds
he gather to listen to the Word and to whom he gave hope and the power to convert,
not even the possessed persons by the evil one, whom he had overcome. He might have
done so, and to other similar facts, to put the disciples on guard, saying that
such facts can hide within them hypocrisy and ambition: in such a case, those who
do them would be "evil" (Mt 7, 22). It seems that he does not want to
give any importance even to what he has done. His view and motivation for saying
this was that others come to know the Father's love, a love for all, a merciful
love, a faithful love and all free giving love. "I have made your name know
to the ones you gave me in the world": now he can say this. We can understand
what is the real intention of Jesus in every moment of his life: we can listen again
to all the facts he did and to all the words he proclaimed keeping in mind the revealed
intention. What does it mean "I have made know your name"? The name is
the profound reality, the same being of a person. Jesus had put men, the weak and
the sinners, those "you gave me in the world", that is, his disciples,
in touch with the eternal love of the Father, a powerful love, infinite, faithful
to folly, that love that forgives and heals. He made "known" the name
of God: when they think of him, now they won't have empty, cloudy, or indefinite
thoughts, but they can hang on to all Jesus did and said, that the imagine of the
God in their minds and hearts now is clean and clear: God is Father, a Father that
can be encountered and even loved by us sinners; he is a Father who communicates
security and serenity with his goodness, a Father who can be imitated in his love
for every human being.
We might find it very strange that God's Words opens with a curse. We have come
to know, and we are deeply convinced, that God bless us, even so, he himself is
a blessing for us. Therefore, how come the prophet opens his mouth saying: "Cursed
is the man"? His intention was to spare us from being deceived, and to give
us a criterion of discernment to avoid cursing ourselves. "Cursed is the man
who trusts in man and put his strength in the flesh", says Jeremiah. The man
who trusts his human choices, who places his hope in the power of people and hangs
on to the sure power of money, the invention of human preoccupations, is on the
road of deceit. As much as political power or economic security seem to be sure,
in as much as the value of the athletes or actors, and those who are in fashion,
the man who is carried away by mundane things, is tied up to things that pass away.
His disillusion will be for certain, as his unhappiness. Disillusion, unhappiness,
and sufferings also to those who take important and necessary decisions, trusting
the discernment of their proper "flesh", that is, their instincts or feelings.
Unfortunately we see this happening in those who choose their life partner on the
basis of human feelings. "Cursed is the man"!
Jeremiah continues with a blessing: "Blessed the man who trusts in the Lord
and the Lord is his trust". This is where the prophet wanted to arrive and
where God himself wanted to arrive too through his prophet. God knows that he is
the only being who knows our real possibilities, both present and future, the only
one who is omnipotent and can redeem and use our past, even that one of which we
are ashamed, for our good. God knows that he is the only being who can make our
life true by making out of it a manifestation of his own. God knows that he is the
only being who awaits us in eternity. Therefore it is true "Blessed is the
man who trusts in the Lord" and trusts his Word. The first teachings of Jesus
to the disciples echo the prophet Jeremiah. He proclaims blessed those who are put
aside, without importance, without a possibility to speak, or are persecuted because
of their sure faith, by today's mentality. Even he, as a prophet, admonishes us
who are superficial and alienated, who search consolation in the world and enjoy
those who make fun of our holy faith.
There are two ways to live, with and without the faith, trusting oneself to either
God or to men. Have you decided? How much have you already paid for your choice?
If you choose the Lord, you might pay with the rejection of your family and friends.
You might pay by loosing your securities or wealth. If you choose the support of
God, you loose that of men, and need to learn truly by faith. You risk to become
poor. If you want to be rich, don't trust yourself to God. If you choose to be considered
more by God, you shall have peace, enjoy little things, be able to empathize with
people in pain and sorrow - the biggest number here on earth. You can speak their
language. They will look for you.
The words of Jesus were heard by "a great number of people" coming both
from a religious people and pagans. Who trusts in him, has not motivations to be
hostile to anybody, neither feels separated from anyone: Jesus has faced death in
order to be one with all those who were destined to death. He died for all and was
raised for all, to give to all the hope of life eternal in communion with him and
all his saints. We shall enjoy the same beatitude which Jesus spoke off to his disciple
and to the crowds.