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Many questions this Easter…
Dear Friends,
It's perhaps just as well that I'm taking the day off on Saturday from publishing a commentary. What Daniel Gullotta presents today is enough for two days, a week or even a lifetime of reflection. In many ways it is a fascinating reflection seeking to better understand from the available evidence how Jesus perceived his own roles as prophet, messiah, story-teller and one who passed on wise thinking, as miracle-worker, and as judge of the behaviours of others, including the religious authorities of his time. He also examines how the followers of Jesus, and his opponents, would have viewed Jesus through the lense of these various roles.
I have to confess that the overwhelming question I've come away with after spending a few hours studying Daniel's essay pretty intently is this: how in the dickens does this help us today in finding the relevance of Jesus Christ in our lives? Are we still looking for a Messiah, or a prophet, or a miracle worker, or a very wise individual who provides for us some 'template' as to how we might best live our lives? I've also been reflecting on these questions as a couple of JWs came to my door yesterday and left a very impressive flyer inviting me to listen to their interpretation of Jesus over Easter. There must be a million homilies and reflections provided this weekend around the world. How much unanimity and agreement amongst them all will there be? I think there is much confusion today in all of our minds as to precisely what Jesus offers to our world, and each of us today. There is even much confusion within Catholicism. Some interpret Jesus as primarily one who lays down moral laws — particularly what everybody ought do, or not do, with their private bits. Others primarily seem to see him as some kind of "Boy-wonder/miracle worker". Others seem to see Jesus as some "hero" who is worshiped like some modern-day pop star or sporting hero — he's a "hero-worship figure" rather than one who actually does anything for us. I think there is even enormous confusion as to what we transmit institutionally as to what Jesus offers — both to the world, and to each of us individually.
How do you see Jesus? Do you think Daniel's exploration of these issues help us come to some more definitive answer as to what Jesus has to offer a confused yet spiritually hungry world? <Read Daniel's reflection>
May I take this opporunity to wish you a restful and meaningful Easter. Our next commentary will be published on Sunday. It's a continuation of Tom McMahon's reflections on the changing nature of Priesthood. I'm sending out our weekly digest today because we won't be publishing on Saturday when it normally goes out.
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