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Saturday, April 13, 2019
But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish." He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to kill him. Jn 11:49-53
Finally, there is a Pharisee that speaks truth. No longer are they hiding behind the pretext of Jesus ‘working’ on the Sabbath and making Himself God. No, their true motive is preservation of their land and nation. In speaking, Caiaphas becomes the instrument of God, prophesying that Jesus was indeed going to die for the nation. Jesus and the Father were way ahead of. The will of the Father was for His Son to die, but not for any earthly nation. No, the intent of the Trinity, was to mount a spec op mission on the very strong hold of the true enemy of Israel and all the dispersed people of God. A mission whose objective was to free all of us from the bondage of sin and death that Satan had held us in since the fall. Just as through the disobedience of one man, [Adam], sin and death entered the world, so through the obedience of one man, [Jesus], the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5). This was the mission that Jesus took on. For [Jesus] being found human in form became obedient [to the Father] unto death, even death on a cross (Phil 2:8). His love for the Father was so great that the Father and He were one, as He said over and over in John’s gospel. Obedience for Him, was not something He was forced to do, but one that He greatly desired to do out of love for the Father. Jesus, then, is our model in obedience.
The word obedience comes from the Latin ob "to" + audire "listen, hear. To listen, or to hear. Over and over we hear of Jesus going off to a quiet place to pray. In Jerusalem, He seemed to spend every night on the Mount of Olives (see Luke 21:37). He and the Father were one because he listened in the silence of those nights to the Father.
“Silence is God's first language.” Thomas Keating tells us. It is in solitude that we learn to ‘speak’ that language. Contemplative prayer takes persistence and patience in part because we are learning a new language and because Satan will do anything to undermine our efforts. But silence is not an absence. Cardinal Robert Sarah tells us that “silence is the manifestation of a presence, the most intense of all presences. The real questions in life are poised in silence.” The question of our redemption, the greatest question in life, was answered by Jesus in the silence of Gethsemane. There was no more intense statement of consequence, or one of more love, than this; Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done. (Lk 22:42)
Our goal in contemplative prayer is to rest in the silence of God. To listen to Him as Jesus listened. To desire to do the will of the Father just as Jesus did. To obey not out of ‘having to’ but out of desiring to. Are you willing to learn that language of love? Can you persist in contemplative prayer not just for 40 days but for a lifetime? For what is a lifetime compared to being able to speak in love to the one who loved us first?
Lenten Action
If you are a regular practitioner of contemplative prayer, during your dedicated prayer time practice the presence of God as you normally do adding the modifications, if any, you incorporated from the PIPPG suggestions. If you are new to meditation and contemplative prayer, during your dedicated prayer time practice the presence of God as outlined in Section 1 of the PIPPG booklet.
Today is not a Fast day, but if you have a mind to abstain from a favorite food or drink, please do so as a means of strengthening your will power. Remember not to watch TV, or use your computer or your phone to access social media, computer games, or other unnecessary apps.