Week after week, the liturgical readings of the Lenten season bring us closer to the week called Holy Week. The Gospel reading for today highlights the contrast between the senses of mission that Jesus had for himself and the utter opposition of the religious leaders of his day. They simply could not grasp the real meaning of Jesus saying that whoever would keep his word would not die or that he could rightly claim God to be his Father,
For them all that Jesus was and said were blasphemous and therefore deserving of death by stoning. They may have thought that they were being faithful to their understanding of God’s Law but their blindness to all that Jesus did and taught made them misunderstand his mission,
What a tragic misunderstanding that was! Little did they realize that by pretending to be religiously faithful to God (according to their “traditions”) they were actually creating an obstacle to the deepest and true meaning of their tradition. That tradition should have led them to accept the promised Messiah. Thus, their misguided religious fanaticism was in reality a betrayal of their tradition. How dangerous religious fanaticism can be! Where can we find relief? Do have an answer?
Ultimately God’s answer is in the Cross, the Cross that is a mystery, a stumbling block to some and a scandal to others. It is on the Cross that Jesus asks the Father to forgive us when we do not know what we are doing. It is the Cross on which death gives way to new life. It is the Cross of mercy, forgiveness and understanding.