Thursday, November 21, 2019

“Jesus Makes for Peace” by Beth DeCristofaro


“Jesus Makes for Peace” by Beth DeCristofaro


Mattathias answered in a loud voice: "Although all the Gentiles in the king's realm obey him, so that each forsakes the religion of his fathers and consents to the king's orders, yet I and my sons and my kin will keep to the covenant of our fathers. God forbid that we should forsake the law and the commandments. We will not obey the words of the king nor depart from our religion in the slightest degree." (1 Maccabees 2:19-22)

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If this day you only knew what makes for peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes. (Luke 19:41-42)

Piety
May the humanity of your Only Begotten Son come, O Lord, to our aid, And may he, who at his birth from the Blessed Virgin did not diminish but consecrated her integrity, by taking from us now our wicked deeds, make our oblation acceptable to you. Through Christ, our Lord.
(Prayer over the Offerings, Mass for the Day)

Study
Today's memorial seems at odds with the readings. Conceivably, the day when formerly childless Anna and Joachim brought Mary to the temple as a little girl would have been a day full of gratitude and joy. These readings, however, are full of strife and foreboding. Mattathias in Maccabees bravely declares that he will keep the law of his forefathers rather than obey an apostate king. Immediately after his declaration, he breaks God’s commandment Thou Shalt Not Kill. He justifies two murders as upholding the honor of his God, but it is a violent upholding. The book of Maccabees continues with stories of courage and martyrdom as the Chosen People are ripped apart in unbelief.

Jesus’ words, too, are dire. He predicts Jerusalem’s destruction. There appear to be multiple layers to his lament. By not recognizing him, there will be destruction to the city and ultimately to his people. And he weeps that the people will be in despair because with the oppression of the Romans certainly expected, by not recognizing him as God and man, Jesus’ followers will despair in the desolation coming to the holy city. Through Jesus alone will his followers find peace even in oppression, ruin, or martyrdom. And by adoption, he gives this peace to us as well.

Mary, Jesus’ and our Blessed Mother, is also known as Queen of Peace. As the offertory prayer tells us, God, who became a man through Mary’s “yes” and within her body, “consecrated her integrity.” As we recognize and accept that God has already given us divine love, mercy, and salvation through Jesus, we too are consecrated. Jesus weeps for us as we choose violence, idols, mortal diversions over the Word.

Action
Jesus is the one who mediates peace. Do I allow his peace to permeate my sinful yet sanctified soul? How do I share his peace to anyone that he – not me - deems in need of peace?

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