YAHWEH Called Me From My Mother's Womb

"Listen to me, O islands,

pay attention, peoples from distant lands.

YAHWEH called me from my mother's womb;

HE pronounced my name before I was born.

HE made my mouth like a sharpened sword.

HE hid me in the shadow of HIS hand.

HE made me into a polished arrow

set apart in HIS quiver.

HE said to me, 'You are Israel, MY servant,

Through you I will be known.'

'I have labored in vain, I thought

and spent my strength for nothing.'

Yet what is due me was in the hand of YAHWEH,

and my reward was with my GOD.

I am important in the sight of YAHWEH,

and my GOD is my strength.

And now YAHWEH has spoken,

HE who formed me in the womb to be HIS servant,

to bring Jacob back to HIM,

to gather Israel to HIM.

HE said: 'Tis not enough

that you be MY servant,

to restore the tribes of Jacob,

to bring back the remnant of Israel.

I will make you the light of the nations,

that MY salvation will reach to the ends of the earth'."

- Isaiah 49:1-6

(Who is speaking in these verses?  They are the Judean exiles at Babylon [some years later they will be called the Jews].  And it is not a lamentation but rather a thanksgiving to GOD who has chosen them in a very special way for a unique mission.

The hope and the future of Israel have been entrusted to them, not to those remaining in the motherland.  Soon they will return and gather the remnant of the tribes of Jacob, which means not only their kins in the ex-kingdom of Judah, but also the other in the northern kingdom.

From that moment on the dream of a final gathering of the whole people of GOD enters the Bible, and Gospel will announce that this goal will be achieved through and in CHRIST: John 11:52.

But there is more, for GOD wants this small group of exiles to bring to the nations the light of salvation.  This marks the opening of the times of mission.  The Jews will be the messengers of the only GOD and of HIS law in the world.  Those who welcome CHRIST will call on the pagans to the faith and Spirit will be bestowed to them [Galatians 3:14].  A humiliated people will be YAHWEH's hidden arrow, HIS definitive weapon: through them GOD will unbare HIS madness which is wiser than human wisdom [1 Corinthians 1:21].

YAHWEH called me from my mother's womb.  These were Jeremiah's words.  All that follows can be interpreted both of the believing minority or of the one who fully lives a prophetic vocation.  Is the servant a single person, or is he a people of prophets?  The apostles of JESUS quickly understood that the present text applied first to HIM.  HE is the Word and the two-edged sword [Hebrew 4:12; Revelations 19:15].

Paul in turn will take for himself these verses: Galatians 1:14; Acts 13:47; 2 Corinthians 10:4, 12:8.  This double interpretation, personal and collective, should not surprise us for the unique Savior is never a lonely savior.  JESUS wanted to be identified with those who believe, who suffer and persevere to prepare for the salvation of the world.)

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The Supper At Bethany

"Six days before the Passover, JESUS came to Bethany, where HE had raised Lazarus, the dead man, to life.  Now they gave a dinner for HIM, and while Martha waited on them, Lazarus sat at the table with JESUS.

Then Mary took a pound of costly perfume, made from genuine spikenard, and anointed the feet of JESUS, wiping them with her hair.  And the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Judas Iscariot--the disciple who was to betray JESUS--remarked, 'This perfume could have been sold for three hundred silver coins, and the money given to the poor.'  Judas, indeed, had no concern for the poor; he was a thief, and as he held the common purse, he used to help himself to the funds.

But JESUS spoke up, 'Leave her alone.  Was she not keeping it for the day of MY burial?  [The poor you always have with you, but you will not always have ME.]'

Many Jews heard that JESUS was there, and they came, not only because of JESUS, but also to see Lazarus whom HE had raised from the dead.  So, the chief priests thought about killing Lazarus as well, for many of the Jews were drifting away because of him and believing in JESUS." - John 12:1-11  

(Matthew and Mark also relate the incident at a supper when Mary showed her passionate love for JESUS.  She loved HIM with all her strength, and her love, far from blinding her, made her sense and respect the mysterious personality of JESUS.

Not all the apostles understood her gesture, because they still had much to learn about loving CHRIST.

Like Judas we often speak of giving to the poor.  Yet the LORD's command is not to give but to love.  To love the poor is to reveal to them their call from GOD, and to help them grow as persons by overcoming their weaknesses and divisions and by fulfilling the mission GOD entrusted to them.  The poor will live the Gospel and witness to it in the world.  If we are not among them, we need conversion and true poverty to discover with them the kingdom.  How can we really love the poor unless we have passionate love for JESUS?  When we do not, we prefer to speak only of giving to the poor.)

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The Last Supper

"On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to JESUS and said to HIM, 'Where do YOU want us to prepare the Passover meal for YOU?'  JESUS answered, 'Go into the city, to the house of a certain man, and tell him, 'The Master says: MY hour is near, and I will celebrate the Passover with MY disciples in your house.'

The disciples did as JESUS had ordered and prepared the Passover meal.

When it was evening, JESUS sat at table with the Twelve.  While they were eating, JESUS said, 'Truly I say to you: one of you will betray ME.'  They were deeply distressed, and they asked HIM, one after the other, 'YOU do not mean me, do YOU, LORD?'

HE answered, 'The one who dips his bread with ME will betray ME.  The Son of Man is going as the Scriptures say HE will.  But alas for that one who betrays the Son of Man: better for him not to have been born.'  Judas, the one who would betray HIM, also asked, 'YOU do not mean me, Master, do you?'  JESUS replied, 'You have said it.'" - Matthew 26:17-25  

(During the Passover JESUS wanted to clarify the meaning of HIS imminent Passion.  HE was headed toward a death which HE freely accepted, a death that would save the world.  What would "HIS" salvation be?  It would bring human history to its fulfillment: people and races needed to mature, to confront one another and finally to be united in one body.  The world would pass through a thousand crises and deaths in order to come to the resurrection.  Within such a history GOD could spread and distribute the riches of HIS Spirit and bring to holiness HIS elect.  JESUS had presented a message that should guide humanity, but a people of GOD was also needed, a yeast, a minority who would feel committed to GOD's work, and to whom GOD would commit HIMSELF.)

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The Plot To Kill JESUS

"Many of the Jews who had come with Mary believed in JESUS when they saw what HE did; but some went to the Pharisees and told them what JESUS had done.  So the chief priests and the Pharisees called together the Council.

They said, 'What are we to do?  For this man keeps on performing many miraculous signs.  If we let HIM go on like this, all the people will believe in HIM and, as a result of this, the Romans will come and destroy our Holy Place and our nation.'

Then one of them, Caiaphas, who was High Priest that year, spoke up, 'You know nothing at all!  It is better to have one man die for the people than to let the whole nation be destroyed.'

In saying this Caiaphas did not speak for himself, but being High Priest that year, he foretold like a prophet that JESUS would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also would die in order to gather into one the scattered children of GOD.  So, from that day on, they were determined to kill HIM.

Because of this, JESUS no longer moved about freely among the Jews.  HE withdrew instead to the country near the wilderness and stayed with HIS disciples in a town called Ephraim.

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and people from everywhere were coming to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover.  They looked for JESUS and, as they stood in the temple, they talked with one another, 'What do you think?  Will HE come to the festival?'" - John 11:45-56  

(Caiaphas words were fulfilled but not in the sense he intended.  JESUS going to die to gather into one the scattered children of GOD.

The worldwide effect of CHRIST's resurrection is to unite all of humanity in renewed creation--as JESUS HIMSELF put it, "when I'M lifted up from earth I shall draw all to MYSELF" [John 12:32].  That is to say, the cross and resurrection are the source of communion and fraternity.

The Church reunites believers of all races and cultures: we call it "Catholic," that is, universal.  This Church, however, is but a beginning and a sign of that which will be attained at the end of time, when the whole of humanity will be reunited in CHRIST [Revelation 7].)

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"The FATHER Is In ME, And I In The FATHER."

"The Jews then picked up stones to throw at HIM; so JESUS said, 'I have openly done many good works among you, which the FATHER gave me to do.  For which of these do you stone ME?

The Jews answered, 'We are not stoning YOU for doing a good work, but for insulting GOD; YOU are only a man, and YOU make YOURSELF GOD.'

The JESUS replied, 'Is this not written in your law: I said, you are gods?  So those who received this word of GOD were called gods, and the Scripture is always true.  What then should be said of the one anointed, and sent into the world, by the FATHER?  AM I insulting GOD when I say, 'I AM the Son of GOD'?

If I AM not doing the works of MY FATHER, do not believe ME.  But if I do them, even if you have no faith in ME, believe because of the works I do; and know that the FATHER is in ME, and I in the FATHER.'

Again they tried to arrest HIM, but JESUS escaped from their hands.  HE went away again to the other side of the Jordan, to the place where John had baptized, and there HE stayed.

Many people came to JESUS, and said, 'John worked no miracles, but he spoke about YOU, and everything he said was true.'  And many in that place became believers." - John 10:31-42 

(In the Scriptures angels are sometimes called sons of GOD, and JESUS remarks that the rulers are called gods.  Because of this, JESUS did not like to be proclaimed Son of GOD.  HE speaks forcefully in saying: the FATHER is in ME, and I in the FATHER: equal to equal [verse 38].  At the same time that HE stresses HIS divine power [verses 15, 18, 29, 38], HE also affirms HIS total dependence on the FATHER.  In this we recognize GOD the Son.)

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Abram Becomes Abraham

"Abram fell face down and GOD said to him, 'This is my covenant with you: you will be the father of a multitude of nations.  No longer will you be called Abram, but Abraham, because I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.  I will make you more and more famous; I will multiply your descendants; nations shall spring from you, kings shall be among your descendants.  And I will establish a covenant, an everlasting covenant between MYSELF and you and your descendants after you; from now on I will be your GOD and the GOD of your descendants after you, for generations to come.  I will give to you and your descendants after you land you are living in, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession and I will be the GOD of your race.'

GOD said to Abraham, 'For your part, you shall keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you, generation after generation." - Genesis 17:3-9 

(Abram means venerated father, and Abraham: father of a multitude.  In changing the name of HIS servant, GOD enables him to begin a new life and to really become what his new name expresses.  JESUS will proceed in the same way with the first leader of HIS church [John 1:42].)

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The Annunciation

"In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from GOD to a town of Galilee called Nazareth.  He was sent to a young virgin who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

The angel came to her and said, 'Rejoice, full of grace, the LORD is with you.'  Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean.

But the angel said, 'Do not fear, Mary, for GOD has looked kindly on you.  You shall conceive and bear a son and you shall call him JESUS.  HE will be great and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High.  The LORD GOD will give HIM the kingdom of David, his ancestor; HE will rule over the people of Jacob forever and HIS reign shall have no end.'

Then Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be if I am a virgin?'  And the angel said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born shall be called Son of GOD.  Even your relative Elizabeth is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child, and she is now in her sixth month.  With GOD nothing is impossible.'

Then Mary said, 'I am the handmaid of the LORD, let it be done to me as you have said.'  And the angel Left her." - Luke 1:26-38  

(Only Mary could make known the mystery of JESUS' conception to the primitive church.  How could she express such an inner experience and how would it be reported?  

Therefore, in writing, Luke had to use biblical words and forms that would allow us to understand the mysterious encounter of Mary with GOD.

 

I am the handmaid of the LORD... In saying this, Mary does not lower herself with false humility; instead she expresses her faith and her surrender.  From her will be born the one who will be both the servant announced by the prophets [Isaiah 42:1; 50:4; 52:13] and the only Son [Hebrews 1].

 

Many persons are mistaken about the word "servant" in that they view Almighty GOD as using HIS servants to HIS own ends without taking time to look at them and love them.  For them GOD would lose HIS greatness if HE were to give Mary authentic responsibility in the incarnation of her Son.

 

This is quite contrary to the spirit of the Bible.  GOD loves people, HE wishes, HE who is GOD, to experience human friendship.  GOD had no need of a woman to make a human body, but HE wanted to have a mother for HIS Son; and for Mary to really be that mother, it was necessary that GOD looked upon her with greater love than HE had for any other creature.  Thus, Mary is called full of grace.

 

Grace is what we call the power GOD has to heal our spirit, to instill in us the disposition to believe, and to make us resonate with the truth so that the expression of real love comes from us in a spontaneous way.  We call grace that which came from the living GOD to blossom on earth: Isaiah 45:8; Psalm 85:11.

 

Mary is full of grace because JESUS was born of her as HE is born of the FATHER.  This is why the Church believes that Mary has a unique role in the work of our salvation.  She is the marvel that GOD achieved at the outset of transforming humankind into HIS image.)

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The Bronze Serpent

"From Mount Hor they set out by the Red Sea Road to go around the land of Edom.  The people were discouraged by the journey and began to complain against GOD and Moses.  'Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?  There is neither bread nor water here and we are disgusted with this tasteless manna.'

YAHWEH then sent fiery serpents against them.  They bit the people and many of the Israelites died.  Then the people came to Moses and said, 'We have sinned, speaking against YAHWEH and against you.  Plead with YAHWEH to take the serpents away.'

Moses pleaded for the people and YAHWEH said to him, 'Make a fiery serpent and set it on a standard; whoever has been bitten and then looks at it shall live.'

So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a standard.  Whenever a man was bitten, he looked towards the bronze serpent and he lived." - Numbers 21:4-9  

(With regard to the bronze serpent, two quite different questions may be asked.  The first: what is the historical origin of this account?  An easy answer: near the Sinai mines a healing god was honored and little bronze serpents were offered in thanksgiving.  The stories of travelers must have inspired the narrative.  But the important question is the second: what does this page of the holy book intend to say?

The people complained.  The Israelites complain again: this is the inner rebellion of those who do not accept sacrifices and will not exert themselves in order to become better and who would rather blame others.

Make a bronze serpent.  A strange command to the Israelites, but the bronze serpent will be a prophetic sign: GOD intends to cure the sin with the very instrument of the sin.

Whoever looks at it shall live: another prophetic statement.  Sinners will not have to follow strict prescriptions: let them merely look with faith at the sign GOD sends for their healing.  JESUS will say: "Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up [on the cross] so that he who believes in HIM will have eternal life" [John 3:14].

The story of the serpent is one of those biblical images with a hidden meaning, and people had to wait for the day when CHRIST would give them meaning.  The same is true of the story of Melchizedek [Genesis 14] and the story of Joseph.

The same is true in our own lives; in our past there have been some incidents which we did not understand at that time.  Why did this happen to me?   Someday, the light of CHRIST will reveal the meaning.)

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The Adulteress

"As for JESUS, HE went to the Mount of Olives.

At daybreak JESUS appeared in the Temple again.  All the people came to HIM, and HE sat down and began to teach them.

Then the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees brought in a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery.  They made her stand in front of everyone.  'Master,' they said, 'this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.  Now the Law of Moses orders that such women be stoned to death; but YOU, what do YOU say?  They said this to test JESUS, in order to have some charge against HIM.

JESUS bent down and started writing on the ground with HIS finger.  And as they continued to ask HIM, HE straightened up and said to them, 'Let anyone among you who has no sin be the first to throw a stone at her.'  And HE bent down again, writing on the ground.

As a result of these words, they went away, one by one, starting with the elders, and JESUS was left alone with the woman standing before HIM.  Then JESUS stood up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they?  Has no one condemned you?  She replied, 'No one.'  And JESUS said, 'Neither do I condemn you; go away and don't sin again'." - John 8:1-11  

(The selection 8:1-11 is not found in most ancient manuscripts of John's Gospel.  Many think that this selection is from other sources.  Perhaps it did belong to the Gospel of Luke [compare 8:2 and Luke 21:38] and was later inserted in John's text.

If JESUS showed such respect to the sinner and refused to condemn her, as humans would, was it because HE did not consider her fault grave?  No, it was because GOD uses different ways than people do to bring sinners to repentance and to purify them through suffering.

There is a big difference between telling a person his ideas or deeds are wrong or sinful, and condemning him.  We usually condemn the person; we do not make room for change and mercy.  In this Gospel episode JESUS is both demanding and merciful towards the woman.)

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The Raising Of Lazarus

"...many Jews had come to Martha and Mary, after the death of their brother, to comfort them.

When Martha heard that JESUS was coming, she went to meet HIM, while Mary remained sitting in the house.  Martha said to JESUS, 'If YOU had been here, my brother would not have died.  But I know that whatever YOU ask from GOD, GOD will give YOU.'  JESUS said, 'Your brother will rise again.'

Martha replied, 'I know that he will rise in the resurrection, at the last day.'  But JESUS said to her, 'I AM the resurrection.  Whoever believes in ME, though he dies, shall live.  Whoever lives and believes in ME will never die.  Do you believe this?'

Martha then answered, 'Yes, LORD, I have come to believe that YOU are the CHRIST, the Son of GOD, HE who is coming into the world.'" - John 11:19-27  

(I have come to believe that YOU are the CHRIST.  What more extraordinary profession of faith is there than Martha's!  It is like Peter's [Matthew 16:16], and in a short while it will be Mary who will tell about the resurrection to the same apostles.  Truly the Gospel is not male chauvinist, nor does it enthrone ecclesiastical hierarchy.)      

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