Saturday, April 13
Readings: EZ 37:21-28; JN 11:45-56
In the first reading, we hear Ezekiel prophesy about a future when Israel would be unified under a leader and would enjoy peace and prosperity on their own soil. For a nation that has been conquered, split and dispossessed, this is a deep longing.
And in the gospel, we hear that the fame of Jesus was spreading but not just in the “Wow, he does some amazing stuff” sense. People began to see him as a political leader who might be able to rouse and lead the people. The Sanhedrin (a local religious tribunal at the time of Jesus) recognizes this emergence and wonders, “If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.”
The group goes on to hear how one man losing his life might be better than a nation falling apart, and so they begin to consider that option. Jesus likely hears of this plan somehow and decides to lay low until the Passover in Jerusalem – a feast with great political and historic significance that was not lost on Jesus.
For me a key line that we must remember is “the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.” What does this mean? Why are they afraid of the Romans?
As we read scripture, we can forget that Jesus and the Jews lived in an occupied land. The Romans actually controlled things, and the everyday people (even the religious authorities) always walked a fine line of trying not to upset the power structures. If you upset the Romans, they were brutal in their retaliation.
Some of us know this from our own personal lives. We might have lived in families where we tried not to upset father or mother because of their reactions. We were “walking on eggshells” or were always checking in to see their mood. It might also have caused conflicts between and among the others in the house as everyone tried to figure out a way to stay safe.
That’s what I see happening here. Oppression does very damaging things to human relationships and often pits the oppressed against each other. So here we see Jesus who continues to speak out about injustice, power, oppression, a new order, etc. His critique is leveled at the Romans and all those who uphold the empire because Jesus knows that empire crushes people – especially the most vulnerable. But empire also begins to produce a monoculture (and monocrops!) whereby diversity is discouraged and conformity is encouraged. And Jesus knows that this was not God’s plan.
Jesus’ counterparts not only are offended by his theology, they are afraid of what he’s saying because they know that it’s going to get him killed and maybe get ALL of them killed. This is not just a political or religious disagreement they have with him. They are afraid of what his actions will bring in terms of Roman attention and retribution. They can see that he is challenging authority.
Every movement for liberation encounters resistance – even from members of the oppressed group itself that is seeking liberation. This is not because people do not desire their own or collective freedom. It is because people are afraid, have different strategies for liberation, prioritize different things, etc. It can also be because people have internalized their own oppression and now use the tools of the dominator against members of their own group. This is, perhaps, one of the most damaging and disheartening impacts of oppression on oppressed groups.
For today, think about times when you have encountered people or movements who were advocating for freedom – your personal freedom or in a more collective sense.
Was there any part of you that was afraid of it?
Was there a part of you that wondered who it might upset if you became more free?
Was there a part of you that might have wished it would just go away?
How do we reconcile those parts?
Just stay with the tension in silence and let God speak to your heart.