A “DANGEROUS” MAN
“My dwelling place shall be with them.” - Ez 37:27
If you have ever seen a film on the life of Jesus (i.e., Jesus of Nazareth, The Gospel According to St. Matthew, or Jesus Christ Superstar to name a few) there is always a scene of today’s Gospel reading. The Pharisees recognize that Jesus is more than just a mere preacher. He is a healer and miracle worker. They cannot control him nor understand why he has to be so radical in his methods, such as dining with gentiles and tax collectors or healing the sick on the sabbath. Christ, who came to preach conversion, hope, and love of God and neighbor, has been labeled “dangerous”. Their deliberations lead them to startling strategy, “it is better that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” The irony is not lost on us today, as we realize the necessity of Christ’s act of sacrificial love to truly save the human race.
In a post-modern world, it is easy to see the Pharisees as a learned group of narrow-minded men scheming to retain power, influence, order, and the status quo. We may be tempted to see them as an irrelevant force that did not know better or was too selfish and scared to recognize God’s Word unfolding before their very eyes. Yet, can we pause and ask, why was Jesus so threatening to them? Why did they see him as dangerous? How could they ignore the miracles and the healings and not become disciples?
One answer is that following Jesus was just too difficult, and in their minds, keeping him alive was a threat to what they felt was comfortable. From the beginning, Christ proclaimed the coming of the kingdom of God. To be coworkers in this work, it requires conversion and letting go, and as Jesus will show us this Holy Week, it requires us to go to Calvary. In each of our lives, Jesus is the gentle voice inviting us to not settle on the comfortable, but to grow, stretch, and struggle towards a more authentic and genuine life, grounded on a relationship with a God that sacrificed everything for us. Therefore, as we approach this Holy Week, let’s not see this invitation as dangerous, but as something much more, a free gift calling us from fear to faith, despair to hope, and anger to love.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I believe in Your love for me.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Your kingdom come.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I have asked You for many favors, but I earnestly implore this one.
Take it, place it in Your open Heart.
Alex Llanera, SJ