People Said That John The Baptist Has Been Raised From The Dead

"At that time, the reports about JESUS reached king Herod.  And he said to his servants, 'This man is John the Baptist.  John has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in John.'

Herod had, in fact, ordered that John be arrested, bound in chains and put in prison, because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.  For John had said to Herod, 'It is not right for you to have her as your wife.'  Herod wanted to kill him but he did not dare, because he feared the people, who regarded John as a prophet.

On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced among the guests; she so delighted Herod that he promised under oath to give her anything she asked for.  The girl, following the advice of her mother, said, 'Give me the head of John the Baptist, here, on a dish.'

The king was very displeased, but because he had made his promise under oath, in the presence of his guests, he ordered it to be given to her.  So he had John beheaded in prison, and his head brought on a dish and given to the girl.  The girl then took it to her mother.

Then John's disciples came, took his body and buried it.  Then they went and told JESUS." - Matthew 14:1-12 

(King Herod.  This refers to Herod Antipas, son of the other Herod who reigned when JESUS was born.

King Herod respected John, but he was prisoner of his milieu and of his vices.  As king of Galilee, his misconduct constituted a public counter-witness.

All through the Scriptures we see prophets stressing the particular responsibility of those who wield power.  If they have to lead the people, they must be, by the rectitude of their life, an example; John the Baptist could not speak of justice without reproaching Herod for his infidelity.

People said that John the Baptist has been raised from the dead.  They considered John a martyr and believed he would rise from the dead to punish Herod.  Some associated JESUS with John--JESUS performed miracles that John had not done.  Others, less informed, thought JESUS was an apparition of John.)

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"The Only Place Where Prophets Are Not Welcome Is His Hometown And In His Own Family."

"HE went to HIS hometown and taught the people in their synagogue.  They were amazed and said, 'Where did HE get this wisdom and these special powers?  Isn't HE the carpenter's son?  Isn't Mary HIS mother and aren't James, Joseph, Simon and Judas HIS brothers?  Aren't all HIS sisters living here?  Where did HE get all these things?'  And so they took offense at HIM.

JESUS said to them, 'The only place where prophets are not welcome is his hometown and in his own family.'  And HE did not perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith." - Matthew 13:54-58 

(Luke explains why the people of Nazareth rejected JESUS:

- First, because of their pride: a stranger easily dazzles us, but we fiercely deny that one of us could stand out or be our teacher: who is this but Joseph's Son?

- Secondly, because of their selfishness: they do not agree that GOD's benefits should be shared with others.  So JESUS reminds them that the prophets of old did not limit their favors to their compatriots alone [see 1 Kings 17:7 and 2 Kings 5].)

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As Clay In The Potter's Hand So Are You In MY Hands

"This is the word of YAHWEH that came to Jeremiah: 'Go down to the potter's house and there you will hear what I have to say.'

So I went to the potter's house and found him working at the wheel.  But the pot he was working on was spoiled in his hands, so he reworked it all over again into another pot that suits his desire.

Meanwhile YAHWEH sent me HIS word, 'People of Israel, can I not do with you what this potter does?  As clay in the potter's hand so are you in MY hands.'" - Jeremiah 18:1-6 

(In several parts of the Scriptures, the comparison with the potter serves to show that GOD is absolute master and directs the lives of all according to HIS will: individuals as well as nations [see Isaiah 29:16 and Romans 9:20].  Here the same comparison is used to provide another teaching which complements the first: namely that we are free.)

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If There Is No Time To Listen To Others, What Is Life Worth?

"As JESUS and HIS disciples were on their way, HE entered a village, and a woman called Martha welcomed HIM to her house.  She had a sister named Mary, who sat down at the LORD's feet to listen to HIS words.  Martha, meanwhile, was busy with all the serving, and finally she said, 'LORD, don't YOU care that my sister has left me to do all the work?  Tell her to help me!'

But the LORD answered, 'Martha, Martha, you worry and are troubled about many things, whereas only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her.'" - Luke 10:38-42 

(Many things seem to be necessary in a family: cleaning, preparing meals, looking after the children.  If there is no time to listen to others, what is life worth?  Perhaps we do many things in the service of GOD and our neighbor; only one thing nevertheless is necessary for us all: being available for JESUS when HE is present.

Martha is working and worrying and does not have time to be with JESUS.  JESUS is peace and the person who does not attend to HIM in peace does not receive HIM.  There is a way of serving and working feverishly which leaves us empty, whether it is at home or in the community; instead JESUS wants us to find HIM in our daily work.

Our prayer can also be a way of fidgeting like Martha: when we fret in saying prayers, when we use a lot of words to present our worries to the LORD a hundred times over; when the person responsible for the celebration becomes nervous and overly concerned about the perfection of the singing or the homily.

To pray is to take the time to listen, to meditate in silence on the work of GOD, it is to slow our desires, so as to pay attention only to GOD, secretly present, and slip into HIS will. 

Mary has chosen the better part.  She followed only her instinct, but JESUS sees more: HE will not be there much longer, and in any case HIS presence among us is always brief.  Mary has been able to take hold of these brief moments when JESUS could be hers, and she is HIS while listening to HIM.)  

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"Where Is Their GOD?"

"Do not remember against us the sins of our fathers.

Let YOUR compassion hurry to us, for we have been brought very low.

Help us, GOD, our savior, for the glory of YOUR name; forgive us, for the sake of YOUR name.

Give not the nations a chance to say, 'Where is their GOD?'  Before YOUR eyes , let them know that YOU avenge the blood of YOUR servants.

Listen to the groans of the prisoners; by the strength of YOUR arm, deliver those doomed to die.

Return our neighbors sevenfold, O YAHWEH, the taunts with which they have taunted YOU.

Then we, YOUR people, the flock of YOUR pasture, will thank YOU forever.  We will recount YOUR praise from generation to generation."

- Psalm 79:8-13

(This psalm almost certainly refers to the fall of Jerusalem in the year 586 B.C.  There is a confession of guilt--the guilt of an earlier generation.  It is interesting that this ingredient should enter the solution of the problem of suffering: Has this man sinned--or his parents?  And, indeed, we may blame our ancestors, for some of our condition, so long as we realize that we may, and do, contribute to the unhappiness of our children.  We are the context into which they will be born, for better or for worse.  

As long as there are captives and blood is poured in this our land, whenever we live under the weight of guilt, it is a good time to pray with this psalm.)

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JESUS Taught All These Things To The Crowds By Means Of Parables

"JESUS offered them another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.

It is smaller than all other seeds, but once it is fully grown, it is bigger than any garden plant; like a tree, the birds come and rest in its branches,'

HE told them another parable, 'The kingdom of heaven is like the yeast that a woman took, and hid in three measures of flour, until the whole mass of dough began to rise.'

JESUS taught all these things to the crowds by means of parables; HE did not say anything to them without using a parable.  This fulfilled what was spoken by the Prophet: I will speak in parables.  I will proclaim things kept secret since the beginning of the world." - Matthew 13:31-35 

(With the parable of the mustard seed JESUS shows us that the kingdom of GOD must be a sign; it has to be something very noticeable in the world.

Any spiritual aspiration, cultural innovation or revolutionary movement must be expressed concretely, through one or several institutions, to make it a clearer and more visible entity.  Likewise JESUS projects HIS Church as the bearer [not the owner] of the kingdom of GOD.  Church means: "Assembly of those called together."  Two of the characteristics of this Church are indicated here:

- firstly, it must be very visible and fruitful for the world, like a tree giving shade to birds;

- secondly, it must be immersed in human reality.

Believers are not to separate themselves from those who do not believe, for they are the yeast of the world.

JESUS does not want an "invisible Church," that is an emotional fellowship and spiritual communion among all those in the whole world who believe in HIM.  HE wants a gigantic tree [in another place JESUS says: a city built on a hill], so that everyone can recognize that the seed was good and full of life.  We need organized Christian communities, a hierarchy... Nevertheless the believers are not to enclose themselves in their chapels or little communities or to spend all their energies working for "their" Church.  They must be useful and fruitful in the world together with all people of goodwill.

Let them be yeast for the dough, not small separate and finer dough.  The yeast transforms human history, not by bringing all people into the Church, but by infusing into human activity the spirit that gives life to humankind.  

JESUS taught all these things to the crowds by means of parables.  On reading Matthew 13:12, we might think that JESUS speaks in parables in order to hide HIS teaching.  Here we find another explanation that corrects and completes the first.  JESUS spoke in parables because that was the best method to convey a teaching relevant for all times.)

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Who Shall Separate Us From The Love Of GOD?

"We know that in everything, GOD works for the good of those who love HIM, whom HE has called, according to HIS plan.  Those whom HE knew beforehand, HE has also predestined, to be like HIS Son, similar to HIM, so, that, HE may be the Firstborn among many brothers and sisters.  And so, those whom GOD predestined, HE called; and those whom HE called, HE makes righteous; and to those whom HE makes righteous, HE will give HIS glory." - Romans 8:28-30 

(In the last pages Paul has described GOD's action in us through HIS Spirit.  In fact, the providence of the FATHER covers all the events of our lives.  Nothing happens in the world, in our family, in our lives merely by chance or because it was so destined.

Those whom HE knew beforehand.  Paul stresses the FATHER's personal attention for each one of us.  GOD knows us in CHRIST from the beginning of the world: children known before they are born, but also destined for a unique place in creation!

On reading this verse some have thought that we are not really free, and that those elected by GOD are saved automatically.  In fact, we do not read that some are elected for salvation, others not.  Paul only says that they are elected to know CHRIST, which is not the same as salvation.

The kingdom of GOD extends much farther than the Church.  The great majority of humankind do not know CHRIST and the Gospel.  Yet GOD knows how to lead and save them, for the sacrifice of CHRIST saves all humankind.  Paul is addressing believers and reminds them that to believe in CHRIST is a great personal grace; let them not be discouraged.

HE called... makes righteous.  Whatever be the way we come to know CHRIST, it is a personal call of GOD who gives us the opportunity to believe.

GOD set us on a solid basis with HIMSELF.  That goes far beyond an ordering on a moral level for those who needed it--and besides such an ordering does not guarantee that we always keep to the right path.  More deeply something has been achieved in us, something has been sown in the world: we are the bearers of innumerable orderings from which a new conscience will originate and appear in humanity, during our lifetime or centuries later.)

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For We, The Living, Are Given Up Continually To Death

"However, we carry this treasure in vessels of clay, so that this all-surpassing power may not be seen as ours, but as GOD's.  Trials of every sort come to us, but we are not discouraged.  We are left without answer, but do not despair; persecuted but not abandoned, knocked down but not crushed.  At any moment, we carry, in our person, the death of JESUS, so, that, the life of JESUS may also be manifested in us.  For we, the living, are given up continually to death, for the sake of JESUS, so, that, the life of JESUS may appear in our mortal existence.  And as death is at work in us, life comes to you.

We have received the same spirit of faith referred to in Scripture, that says: I believed and so I spoke.  We also believe, and so we speak.  We know that HE, who raised the LORD JESUS, will also raise us, with JESUS, and bring us, with you, into HIS presence.  Finally, everything is for your good, so that grace will come more abundantly upon you, and great will be the thanksgiving for the glory of GOD." - 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 

(We carry this treasure in vessels of clay.  Usually, GOD carries out HIS plans by using inadequate instruments.  Graham Greene became famous for his book "The Power and the Glory" in which we see a priest achieving heroic things despite his many personal faults.

For we, the living, are given up continually to death.  The apostle's death is necessary so that his work may live.  When a good job has been done in one sector of the Church, there has to come the hour of persecution, or of obedience to leaders whose authority we cannot reject, in spite of the fact that they may be unjust or mistaken.  Nothing grows without having died first.)

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The New Jerusalem

"Come back, faithless people--it is YAHWEH who speaks--for I AM your master.  I will select one from a city and two from a family and bring you to Zion.  Then I will give you shepherds after MY own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and prudence.  And when you have increased and multiplied in the land in those days--it is YAHWEH who speaks--people will no longer speak of the Ark of the Covenant of YAHWEH; it will not be remembered or missed, nor shall it be made again!

Then they will call Jerusalem 'The Throne of YAHWEH' and all the nations will gather there to honor the name of YAHWEH; and no longer will they follow the stubbornness of their wicked hearts." - Jeremiah 3:14-17 

(These words were probably proclaimed by Jeremiah after the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 587 B.C. and they contain promises of restoration.  They were inserted here in the book to tone down the pessimistic impression caused by so many condemnations.  In fact, these threats of punishment had to be completely carried out before GOD would offer new hope.)

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Man's Malice: GOD's Goodness

"YOUR love, O GOD, reaches the heavens; YOUR faithfulness, to the clouds.

YOUR justice is like the mighty mountains; YOUR judgment, like the unfathomable deep.  

YOU preserve, O YAHWEH, humans and beasts.

How precious, O GOD, is YOUR constant love!  Mortals take refuge in the shadow of YOUR wings.

In YOUR house they find rich food and they drink from YOUR spring of delight.

For with YOU is the fountain of life, in YOUR light we see light.

Bestow on YOUR faithful, YOUR love; and give salvation to the upright of heart."

- Psalm 36:6-11

(Those who need help to face the mystery of sin will do well in praying this psalm.  Love will conquer hatred.)

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