SATURDAY OF THE
FOURTH WEEK IN LENT
Some of the crowd who had been listening said, “He is indeed the prophet,” and some said, “He is the Christ,” but others said, “Would the Christ come from Galilee1”
—John 7:40-41
The Gospel today reveals that Jesus not only had good, faithful friends willing to follow him wherever he went and fierce enemies who couldn’t wait to get rid of him, but also many sympathizers who were attracted, but afraid at the same time.
The rich young man loved Jesus but couldn’t give up his wealth to follow him. Nicodemus admired Jesus but was afraid to lose the respect of his own colleagues. I am becoming more and more aware of the importance of looking at these fearful sympathizers because that is the group I find myself mostly gravitating toward….
To his colleagues, the Pharisees, Nicodemus said, “Our Law does not allow us to pass judgment on anyone without first giving him a hearing and discovering what he is doing” (John 7:51). These are careful words. They are spoken to people who hate Jesus. But they are spoken on their terms. They say, “Even if you hate Jesus and desire to kill him, do not lose your dignity, follow your own rules.” Nicodemus said it to save Jesus, but he didn’t want to lose his friends. It didn’t work. He was ridiculed by his friends: “Are you a Galilean too? Go into the matter, and see for yourself: prophets do not arise from Galilee!” His personal and professional identity are attacked.
It is such a familiar scene. I have spoken like Nicodemus in episcopal committees and faculty meetings many times. Instead of speaking directly about my love for Jesus, I make a smart remark suggesting that maybe my friends should look at another side of the question. They usually respond by saying I have not studied my sources well enough, or that I seem to have some sentimental attachment that got in the way of a truly professional approach. Those who have said these things have had the power of right thinking and thus forced me to silence. But it has been fear that has prevented me from speaking from the heart and risking rejection.
Nicodemus deserves all my attention.
Our Prayer
Dear Lord,
show me your kindness and your gentleness,
you who are meek and humble of heart.
So often I say to myself, “The Lord loves me.”
Yet time and again I have to confess
that I have not let your love descend fully
from my mind into my heart.
In the coming weeks, O Lord,
I will be able to see again
how much you indeed love me.
Let these weeks become an opportunity for me
to let go of all my resistances to your love
and an occasion for you to call me closer to you.
Amen.