Breaking the Word

Monday of the Holy Week – 3^rd April 2023 – Isaiah 42,1-7; Jn 12,1-11

Servant of Justice

In the first reading, we hear of the first of the Suffering Servant Songs in Isaiah. We find how God is pleased with the Servant who will minister in a quiet, but powerful way. He is chosen or set apart, to act as God’s witness before the nations. This Servant of Yahweh will perform his task gently to those who are bruised and broken and will primarily establish justice on earth. This servant will bring about a new covenant relationship, opening the eyes of the blind, and setting free those who are oppressed and living in darkness. All this because this person has a servant heart – one who seeks to be of service to those in need. He accepts outrage and contempt and does not succumb because Yahweh sustains him.

In this Holy Week, we will continue our journey with Jesus during His last days before His hour of glory – his suffering, death and resurrection. Jesus comes in fulfillment of Isaiah’s passage about the Suffering Servant of justice. He will demonstrate His servanthood even more in the days to come as He serves His disciples at the Last Supper as a sign of His willingness to give His life. He will continue His servant mentality throughout His passion. His focus is never on Himself, but on what He can do to live out the divine will and bring others into a closer relationship with God. He lived to proclaim the good news of His Father’s love until his last breath. Likewise, Mary and Martha demonstrate the servant attitude in their own way. In contrast, Judas thinks only of himself, of how he can be served, but has no heart in service of the poor. The religious leaders are also not in service of others. Instead, they see Jesus as a threat who must be eliminated.

5^th week in Lent, Saturday – 1^st April 2023 – Ezekiel 37,21-28; Jn 11,45-57

Eternal Covenant

In the first reading, the prophet Ezekiel is speaking to the exiles during their captivity to come back to God and be united. God wishes to gather the dispersed regions of the two kingdoms and to renew His covenant relationship with them. He unites the nation in a new covenant which features the messianic age. The essential elements that restore the fortunes of the great Kingdom are: Yahweh, its God; Israel, his people; Sanctuary, a sign of God’s presence and David, as shepherd over them. The coming Messianic ruler is called David. He is likened to a shepherd, who cares for his flock. We recognize Jesus in this ‘Messianic David’, and later Jesus will also call himself the Good Shepherd, protecting his own and looking for those who are lost. The covenant formula of “I will be their God and they will be my people” is repeated twice. It is through Jesus that the new covenant is signed by his blood on the cross. This covenant extends now, not only to people or race, but to the whole world, “The nations will know that I am Yahweh, the sanctifier of Israel, when my sanctuary is with them forever.”