YAHWEH Called Me From My Mother's Womb

 "Listen to me, O islands,

pay attention, people 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: 'It is 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.'"

- Psalm 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 hey will return and gather the remnant of the tribes o 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 Scriptures, and the Gospel will announce that this goal will be achieved through and in CHRIST: John 11:12.

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 [1:5].  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 [Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 19:15].

Paul in turn will take for himself these verses: Galatians 1:15; 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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Our Fathers And Mothers Must Leave Us In The End, But Our FATHER In Heaven, Never!

 "YAHWEH is my light and my salvation

--whom shall I fear?

YAHWEH is the rampart of my life;

I will not be afraid.

When the wicked rush at me

to devour my flesh,

it is my foes who stumble,

my enemies fall.

Though an army encamp against me,

my heart will not fail;

though war break out against me,

I will still be confident.

I hope, I am sure,

that I will see the goodness of YAHWEH

in the land of the living.

Trust in YAHWEH, be strong and courageous

yes, put your hope in YAHWEH!"

- Psalm 27:1. 2. 3. 13-14

(It is not surprising that high confidence should suddenly give way to urgent appeal.  Peter jumped into the lake without a thought, but he was soon shouting 'LORD, save me.'  Moreover, the confidence returns, even in the second part of the psalm, Our fathers and mothers must leave us in the end, but our FATHER in heaven, never!

The anonymous voice of the last verse proposes and ratifies: courage rather than fear; hope rather than discouragement.  This is true too for the Christian; before danger, there is a word of encouragement, for instance in John 16:33 and Matthew 14:26.  Here is a beautiful prayer to cultivate the absolute trust of the believer in GOD.

All the struggles, trials and temptations will not let us forget the house of the LORD at the end of the road.) 

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HE Did Not Regard Equality With GOD

 "Though HE was in the form of GOD,

HE did not regard equality with GOD as something to be grasped,

but emptied HIMSELF,

taking on the nature of a servant made in human likeness,

and, in HIS appearance, found, as a man,

HE humbled HIMSELF by being obedient, to death,

death on the cross.

That is why GOD exalted HIM

and gave HIM the name which outshines all names,

so, that, at the name of JESUS all knees should bend

in heaven, on earth and among the dead,

and all tongues proclaim, that CHRIST JESUS is the LORD,

to the glory of GOD the FATHER." - Philippians 2:6-11

(HE did not regard equality with GOD: the mystery of GOD's Son who became a mortal man and gave up GOD's glory, although HE could have preserved it even in HIS human life.  Since CHRIST was to be the New Man, glorified by GOD and placed above everything, HIS being subject to misery and limitations was a way of being reduced to nothingness.

GOD exalted HIM.  The humiliation and obedience of CHRIST were the condition for receiving HIS glory.  HE gave HIM the name [of GOD], that is, HE made HIM fully enjoy in HIS human nature the divine Power [or name].)

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To Truly Become The New People Of GOD, The Church Must Be One Even In Its Visible Structure

 "You will then say to them: Thus says YAHWEH: I AM about to withdraw the Israelites from where they were among the nations.  I shall gather them from all around and bring them back to their land.  I shall make them into one people on the mountains of Israel; and one king is to be king of them all.  They will no longer form two nations or be two separate kingdoms, nor  will they defile themselves again with their idols, their detestable practices and their sins.  I shall free them from the guilt of their treachery; I shall cleanse them; and they will be for ME a people, and I shall be GOD for them.  MY servant David will reign over them, one shepherd for all.  They will live according to MY laws and follow and practice MY decrees.  They will settle in the land I gave to MY servant Jacob where their ancestors lived.  There, they will live forever, their children and their children's children.  David, MY servant, will be their prince forever.

I shall establish a Covenant of peace with them, an everlasting Covenant.  I shall settle them; and they will increase; and I shall put MY Sanctuary in their midst forever.  I shall make MY home at their side; I shall be their GOD and they will be MY people.  Then the nations will know that I AM YAHWEH who makes Israel holy, having MY Sanctuary among them forever.'" - Ezekiel 37:21-28 

(The Jewish nation's "original sin" was its division since Solomon's death.

In the restored Israel the division would be removed and healed: there would be one people and one shepherd [see John 10:16].

Even after the exiles came back from Babylon, Israel understood that she had to gather her children who had emigrated all over the world.  JESUS, likewise, intended to gather all the scattered children of GOD [John 15:52], since HE did not come for the Jews alone, but for all those who do not belong to the flock also [John 10].

If we reflect on this extensive mission of JESUS' disciples, it becomes evident that the word "assemble" does not mean to gather together all the nations into one, or impose on them the same institutions.  For them it is a matter of forming one living body where all that is human and the uniqueness of each one may flourish.  Such a unity is a gift of GOD: to have reached it would mean that we have arrived at the end of history.

Meanwhile, to truly become the New People of GOD, the Church must be one even in its visible structure.  To become divided is to revert to the sin of Jeroboam.)

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Know That 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.'

Then 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.  At the same time that HE stresses HIS divine power, HE also affirms HIS total dependence on the FATHER.  In this we recognize GOD the Son.)

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Here I AM To Do YOUR Will

 "... and never, will the blood of bulls and goats take away these sins.

This is why, on entering the world, CHRIST says: YOU did not desire sacrifice and offering; YOU were not pleased with burnt offerings and sin offerings.  Then I said: 'Here I AM.  It was written of ME in the scroll.  I will do YOUR will, O GOD.'

First HE says: Sacrifice, offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings YOU did not desire nor were YOU pleased with them--although they were required by the law.  Then HE says: Here I AM to do YOUR will.

This is enough to nullify the first will and establish the new.  Now, by this will of GOD, we are sanctified, once, and for all, by the sacrifice of the body of CHRIST JESUS." - Hebrews 10:4-10

 (The verses say that we passed from a religion where everything is a continual beginning again to a new state where we are in the definitive now.  Here we have an aspect of the Christian faith that is not easy to accept.  Are we alone holding the definitive truth in the midst of so many religions in which all presume to have the truth?  Are we in a definitive situation when every day we fall into the same sins?  Are we the definitive people of GOD when the Christian witness in the world is so far from convincing?  No one will answer our doubts on this point: our only hope is to personally enter more deeply into the Christian experience.)

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The Truth Will Set You Free, And: The SON Makes You Free

 "JESUS went on to say to the Jews who believed in HIM, 'You will be MY true disciples, if you keep MY word.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'  They answered HIM, 'We are the descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves of anyone.  What do YOU mean by saying: You will be free?'

JESUS answered them, 'Truly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave.  But the slave doesn't stay in the house forever; the Son stays forever.  So, if the Son makes you free, you will be really free.

I know that you are the descendants of Abraham; yet you want to kill ME because MY word finds no place in you.  For MY part, I speak of what I have seen in MY FATHER's presence, but you do what you have learned from your father.'

They answered HIM, 'Our father is Abraham.'  Then JESUS said, 'If you were Abraham's children, you would do as Abraham did.  But now you want to kill ME, the one who tells you the truth--the truth that I have learned from GOD.  This is not what Abraham did; what you are doing are the works of your father.'

The Jews said to HIM, 'We are not illegitimate children; we have one FATHER, GOD.'  JESUS replied, 'If GOD were your FATHER you would love ME, for I came forth from GOD, and I AM here.  And I didn't come by MY own decision, but it was HE HIMSELF who sent ME.'" - John 8:31-42 

(JESUS spoke to the Jews who believed in HIM.  Those Jews believed in JESUS according to their own view of HIM, very much like the Jews whom Paul would oppose in Galatians 3-4 did.  From JESUS' discussions with those who claimed to have the true religion, we can surmise how JESUS would confront us were HE to pass among us today.

JESUS would not reproach us so much for our sins, as for our continuing to live in sin.  Sins are evil deeds that at times may be excusable; often we repent of them as soon as we have committed them.  To be in sin, on the other hand, is to live in falsehood; it is to persist stubbornly in a certain pride, an attachment to our own judgments.  This attitude prevents us from entering into the ways of GOD, even though to all appearances we live an upright life and proclaim our faith.

JESUS is not a banner for every social group, whether known as Catholic or by some other name, with which we go to fight other groups.  HE has come as a king of the kingdom of truth.  Those who seek the truth are HIS, whatever their ideas may be.  Rather, those who live in truth are HIS.

For those Jews the world was divided into two groups: the sons of Abraham, that is themselves, and the rest.  They boasted of their ancestry and forgot that in GOD's eyes, each one is what he is.

JESUS comes to them as a witness to the truth; and HIS presence alone obliges all to examine themselves.  The truth JESUS speaks of is not a doctrine that HIS followers should impose by force.  Propagandists with arguments and biblical quotations are not needed, but witnesses who speak from their experience.  JESUS says: The truth will set you free, and: the Son makes you free.  Our truth consists in living in accordance with our vocation as children of GOD.

The believer who knows he is loved by GOD and consequently endeavors to be authentic is already in the truth, even if he retains some prejudices common to his milieu, or is unconsciously guided by some lies or illusions in his way of living.

JESUS also speaks of freedom.  Truth and freedom go together.  Many individuals and people have not spared themselves in an effort to break their chains.  Once liberated they quickly fall into other forms of subjugation, because the root of all slavery lies within everyone.

By doing evil one becomes an accomplice of the Devil and, even without wanting to do so, falls into a trap.  He will then be unable to resist the illusions and harmful influences by which the Father of Lies brings the world under his power.

As long as we continue to be unconcerned about our true condition and are either agitated or idle, we are no more than slaves, even though we may excel in wealth, knowledge or status.  We thus add to the population of the world of below, which is unstable.  Generations of slaves will follow like the waves of the sea: slaves are people who are for a time in the house.  CHRIST enables us to enter yet another world, the world above in which the sons and daughters stay forever.  From the time we become children of GOD, everything we do bears fruit of eternity.)

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I AM HE

 "Again, JESUS said to them, 'I AM going away, and though you look for ME, you will die in your sin.  Where I AM going you cannot come.'  The Jews wondered, 'Why does HE say that we can't come where HE is going?  Will HE kill HIMSELF?

But JESUS said, 'You are from below and I AM from above; you are of this world and I AM not of this world.  That is why I told you that you will die in your sins.  And you shall die in your sins, unless you believe that I AM HE.'

They asked HIM, 'Who are YOU?'; and JESUS said, 'Just what I have told you from the beginning.  I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the One who sent ME is truthful and everything I learned from HIM, I proclaim to the world.'

They didn't understand that JESUS was speaking to them about the FATHER.  So JESUS said, 'When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM HE and that I do nothing of MYSELF, but I say just what the FATHER taught ME.  HE who sent ME is with ME and has not left ME alone; because I always do what pleases HIM.'

As JESUS spoke like this, many believed in HIM." - John 8:21-30 

(In this discourse JESUS gives witness to HIS own divinity.  HE makes us understand that in HIM there is a mysterious secret regarding HIS origin.  On this page we read the expression I AM seven times.  John wishes us to understand that this is the key word of the discourse.  I AM.  It was thus GOD designated HIMSELF, speaking to Moses.  We know that the Jews called GOD, YAHWEH, that is, HE who is.  JESUS declares: "I AM," thus claiming for HIMSELF the name that should not be given to any creature, no matter how prominent the person might be.  There are Christians [e.g. the Witnesses of Jehovah] who would make CHRIST less than HE is.  They argue that since GOD is only one, how can the fulness of divine life be shared among three persons.  While they call CHRIST the Son of GOD, they deny that HE is GOD born of GOD.  Yet JESUS IS as much as the FATHER, and must not be confused with the FATHER, hence HE says: The FATHER sent ME, and also: The testimony of two persons is worthy [in the Jewish law code].

You will die in your sin.  Sin is not just doing something bad.  Sin is, also, to enclose ourselves in our own petty problems and rely only on human wisdom, without opening ourselves to the horizons of GOD.  This eventually leads to death, for a life closed to GOD is no real life.  Scripture divides people into two groups: those from above, who seek GOD's ways, and those from below, who seek limited human goals.  Sin is to refuse to allow oneself to be born again from above, as JESUS told Nicodemus [3:3].  These Jews did not believe in JESUS, because HIS way of life and HIS message reflected a world--that did not attract them.  JESUS would have wasted HIS time with them; the wisdom of GOD would be better revealed in HIS death on the cross.)

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We Usually Condemn The Person; We Do Not Make Room For Change And Mercy

 "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 

(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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Unless The Grain Of Wheat Falls To The Earth And Dies, It Remains Alone; But If It Dies, It Produces Much Fruit

 "There were some Greeks who had come up to Jerusalem to worship during the feast.  They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, 'Sir, we wish to see JESUS.'  Philip went to Andrew,  and the two of them told JESUS.

Then JESUS said, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  Truly, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.

Those who love their life destroy it, and those who despise their life in this world save it even to everlasting life.

Whoever wants to serve ME, let him follow ME; and wherever I AM, there shall MY servant be also.  If anyone serves ME, the FATHER will honor him.'" - John 12:20-26 

(Several foreigners [called Greeks because of their language] were converted to the faith of the Jews.  Though they did not observe the Jewish laws, they were accepted in the temple of Jerusalem where a courtyard, [separate from that of the Jews] was reserved for them.  The question from those Greeks offers JESUS the opportunity to announce that HIS kingdom will be extended through the whole earth, when HE will have been raised on the cross.

Unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies.  JESUS will die and the universal Church will be born.  JESUS allows HIS lifeless body to be laid in the earth; on rising from the tomb, HIS same body, now glorified, will also embrace the believers united to HIM.  The life that is now HIS will be communicated to all the children of GOD.

Unless the grain dies.  This is the law for all life that will be fruitful [Mark 8:34].  The first believers were already saying: "The blood of the martyrs is a seed.")

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