Inside Job

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/103025.cfm

Jesus utters a curious phrase in today's Gospel. He says that "it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem." Interestingly enough, we could disprove the accuracy of this statement if we trace through the lives of prophets in the Old Testament. So what is Jesus getting at? As is usually the case, we have to look at the context and the spiritual meaning.

First, the context. In the first line of this Gospel selection, we hear the Pharisees come to Jesus and say: "Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you." This is interesting, because we already have many clues that the Pharisees are seeking to trap Jesus and plotting to get rid of Him. While they are citing Herod, their objective could very easily be to get Him to leave the area because of His tremendous influence on the people (replacing their previous level of influence). While it might be true that Herod is seeking to do something to Jesus, it is also true that the Pharisees are scheming against Him as well.

If we look at Jesus' statement, we can certainly see that some prophets (particularly those of the northern tribes of Israel) have died outside of the city of Jerusalem. If we consider however that Jesus is the Word Incarnate and that all scripture ultimately flows through Him, then we also know that Jerusalem, in many of the psalms is seen as an expression of the People of God, of the Nation of Israel. In this sense, it is always the people of Israel that kill the prophets (or their kings).

This realization brings an interesting perspective to our current day. As much as we rail against political or cultural pressure on the Church, the real threat to those who speak truth in the Church comes from within the Church. The Church survived so many persecutions and political upheavals over the centuries, but it was always battles from within that caused the Church to split. The Great Schism in 1054 rose from within the Church and split east and west. The Reformation in 1517 further divided the western Church into many splinters.

My point is this: Jesus prays that we be one. Jesus' words are not empty or ineffective. It is through Him that the world is indeed created. When He prays these words, He is speaking them into existence. We must be ardently focused on being united within our Church. This will require understanding, listening and forgiveness that is beyond our capability, but not beyond His. He unites us in His Body and Blood. We should not tear Him apart with our disagreements. We should be doggedly determined to be united with our brothers and sisters, because in this we get the chance to be part of answering the prayer of Our Savior. That's the least we can do.

Put your political purposes aside and declare a ceasefire on your cultural wars long enough to unite with others in the Church, to kindle the love of Christ, forgive some division with someone else in your Church. You don't have to wait long. The next time you go to Mass, we have something called the Sign of Peace - forgive (and beg forgiveness) from your heart then. Because if there is going to be a downfall in the Church - it will be an inside job. Don't let it happen on your watch.

NOTE: On the second and fourth Sunday of each month, I share a view of the Christian Life through the lens of Jesus' life here on earth called: way | truth | life. It is a lens that will forever change the way you feel about Jesus about Church and about Worship. www.smmpgh.org/wtl

I am also starting TONIGHT at Cadence Clubhouse, a weekly Bible study where we will delve into the historical/ cultural world of the Sunday readings so that we can connect them to our experiences of life. You've never studied scripture like this before.