Day 104: The Priestly Prayer of Jesus

Today's readings: John 16-18 and Proverbs 6:12-15.

I. John 16 has Jesus teaching many things to the Apostles. First, He warns them that they will face opposition and persecution for His sake and to not lose faith. Jesus predicts His death and resurrection, that their grief will be turned to sorrow. After this, the Holy Spirit will come to their advantage, to convict the world of sin, guide them in truth, and glorify Christ.

In the next chapter, Jesus gives what is often called the High Priestly Prayer because Jesus intercedes for Himself, the Apostles, and all future believers. His comparison of Christian unity to that shared by the Father and the Son (17:21), we have in the Church, but Christians have not done so well with each other.

John 18 begins the Passion narrative. Judas Iscariot's betrayal is completed as Jesus is arrested. I like how they fell down when He gave an "I Am" reply to them. He is brought before Annas, then Caiaphas, and Peter denies knowing Him. He is taken before Pilate, who questions Him, has Him flogged, and later attempts to release Him under a Passover custom. The crowd, however, chose Barrabas, and Jesus was condemned. The whole thing was a sordid mess that many will answer for. At least it helped convert an actor and hopefully many others.

The BIY Companion, Vol I, has some good commentary on this:

Jesus does not promise a life free from suffering. During his public ministry, he faces derision, humiliation, and pain - ultimately, the loss of everything except his Father... Jesus is betrayed and handed over to Pilate, who asks him, "What is truth?" (John 18:38). This is a pertinent question for our relativistic age. Today, many say, "You have your truth, and I have mine." Jesus challenges this notion, saying that everyone who hears his voice hears the truth. While Jesus says that he has come to gather the lost sheep of the house of Israel, he makes it clear that his saving mission is for people of every nation. (p. 222)

II. Proverbs 6:12-15 gives more advice to young men, not to be liars and troublemakers, either being one themselves or associating with them, for such will bring them to ruin. I've said this before with some of the Psalms, but the same is true with some of the Proverbs: I don't like how they divide them up like this. Something that should be just one or two days is stretched out over multiple days. It's ridiculous!

That's it for today.

Day 103: Judas' Secrecy

Today's readings: John 13-15 and Proverbs 6:6-11.

I. John 13 begins with Jesus washing the feet of the Apostles at the Last Supper. He then foretells His betrayal by Judas Iscariot, as we know afterward. He gives the remaining Apostles, after Judas had left, a new commandment. The chapter ends with Jesus foretelling Peter's denial of Him. This is now known as Maundy Thursday, which begins the Paschal Triduum.

In the next chapter, Jesus teaches them that He is the way to the Father. Right after the confusing foretelling of betrayal by one of them, Judas's leaving for some reason, and Jesus predicting Peter's denial of Him, this must have been a relief to the Apostles, but also overwhelming too. The chapter ends with Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit.

John 15 begins with Jesus teaching that He is the vine and we are the branches as His followers. The world's hatred of the Gospel and believers is told by Jesus.

The BIY Companion, Vol I, has some good commentary on this:

Jesus promises his apostles that he will prepare a place for them and send the Holy Spirit. These are the arms of the Father reaching out to embrace us, one arm being the Son and the other being the Holy Spirit. We have the choice of whether or not we want to live in that embrace. God says we can do nothing without him. In him, though, we can do all things. In all of our struggles, we are called to abide in the heart of Jesus. In our weakness, we might betray the love of Jesus, like Judas, or deny him in our actions, like Peter. When we find ourselves betraying or denying the Lord, we need to seek his forgiveness and ask for the grace that will bring us back to him. (p. 220)

II. Proverbs 6:6-11 advises young men to steer clear of laziness.

That's it for today!

Day 102: The Death of Lazarus

Today's readings: John 10-12 and Proverbs 6:1-5.

I. John 10 begins with Jesus teaching that He is the Good Shepherd, that He will save the "sheep" (us), and for whom He willingly lays down His life and takes it up again. Again, the Jews tried to stone Him, but He was able to get away.

In the next chapter, we have perhaps the most dramatic of Jesus' miracles: the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Some witnesses told the Pharisees about this, and with the chief priests, they plotted to kill Jesus.

John 12 begins with Mary anointing Jesus with costly ointment, to which Judas Iscariot objected. When the crowds came to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised, the chief priests plotted to kill him, too. Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey, to the delight of the crowds on Palm Sunday. Later, Jesus speaks of His death, and some did not believe. The chapter ends with a summary of His teaching.

The BIY Companion, Vol I, notes:

As the "sheep" of Jesus' flock, we have an Enemy, who seeks to kill, steal, and destroy. But Jesus comes that we may have abundant life (see John 10:10). This is the Good News... With everything he says and does, Jesus shows that he cannot be just a holy man or prophet; he must be the divine Son of God. (p. 218)

II. Proverbs 6:1-5 is the first part of this proverb, warning young men not to ensnare themselves with pledges. Essentially, debts.

That's it for today!

Day 101: Signs and Wonders

Today's readings: John 7-9 and Proverbs 5:15-23.

I. John 7 describes the growing controversy about Jesus during the Feast of the Tabernacles. First, family members urged Him to go to Judea and show His wonders there but oddly didn't believe themselves. Next, Jesus goes to Jerusalem privately and teaches at the Temple, where folks debate over who He is. The Pharisees sent guards to arrest Him, but they failed. There is more debate, and Nicodemus urges a fair hearing before judgment.

In the next chapter, the controversy over Jesus grows. The Pharisees try to trip Him up by bringing an adulterous woman and saying that under the Law she should be stoned. He brilliantly deflects the challenge and saves her life, telling her to "go, and do not sin again." He gives one of the great "I Am" statements, and those who reject Him die in their sin, much to the Pharisees' chagrin. He tells those who do believe, "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Some in the crowd object that they are descendants of Abraham and not slaves, but Jesus explains that they are slaves to sin and only He can free them. The debate grows, and Jesus makes one of the clearest claims of divinity, "before Abraham was, I AM." They seek to stone Him for blasphemy, but He leaves unharmed.

John 9 begins with the healing of a blind man who was born blind. This occurred on the Sabbath, which really irked the Pharisees. They conduct an investigation to discredit Him, but, though pressed, the healed man stands firm, declaring, "one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." He is cast out. Jesus finds the healed man, who confesses his belief and worships Him.

II. Proverbs 5:15-23 finishes out this proverb. The BIY Companion, Vol I, has some good commentary on this:

Proverbs 5 gives advice to a son about the kind of woman he should marry. It is also general advice regarding the kind of people with whom we should associate. We should spend time with those who have depth of character. As we see in the final verse of Proverbs 5, a person can die due to lack of discipline. (p. 216)

That's all for today!

Day 100: This Is My Body

Today's readings: John 4-6 and Proverbs 5:7-14.

I. John 4 has a really good story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well and the healing of a government official's son in Capernaum.

In the next chapter, Jesus heals a paralytic man but is criticized for doing so on the Sabbath. He responds to them of His authority and witnesses to who He is.

John 6 has the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, Jesus walking on water, and the bread from heaven discourse (the Eucharist).

The BIY Companion, Vol I, has some good commentary on this last one:

Jesus makes it clear in John 6:51 that he is the living bread that has come down from heaven and that anyone who eats of this bread will live forever. Here, Jesus makes a connection with the Lamb of God. When the people ate the flesh of the lamb, they were given freedom and life - and if they eat the bread of heaven, which is his flesh, they will have freedom and life... For more than 1,500 years, every Christian believed in the Eucharist as the true Body and Blood of Christ. If this teaching is wrong, then every Christian was guilty of idolatry, and Catholics and Orthodox Christians are guilty of idolatry today. Recall how quickly God put a stop to the worship of the golden calf on Mount Sinai. Would God have allowed Christians to idolatrously worship mere bread and wine since the beginning of the Church? (p. 214)

II. Proverbs 5:7-14 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

Involvement with a "loose woman" ultimately brings social disgrace, financial loss, and painful regret. However, fidelity to one's "wife" brings opportunity for lasting happiness and love. The chapter combines practical advice with a marked esteem for marital chastity (CCC 2339, 2349). (p. 967-68)

That's it for today!

Day 99: The Word Became Flesh

 Today's readings: John 1-3 and Proverbs 5:1-6.

I. In the unexpected switch to the New Testament, we begin with perhaps my favorite Gospel. John 1 is one of the most pivotal chapters of the Bible: the Logos is God, fulfilling Scripture when He "became flesh and dwelt among us." John the Baptist "bore witness to Him," baptized Christ, which gives us one of the first theophanies in the New Testament, and the first Apostles were called by Him. 

In the next chapter, Jesus performs His first public miracle at a wedding in Cana upon the urging of Mary. In this, He revealed something of His divine authority and glory. Then He cleanses the Temple, driving out the traders and money-changers, telling them that "you shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade." In this, He showed His authority and zeal for proper worship. A sign is demanded from Him, which he replies, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" (meaning His body). 

John 3 has one of the most important conversations in Scripture. Nicodemus visits Jesus at night and is told how a person enters the Kingdom of God. Probably the most famous verse from the New Testament is given:

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (3:16)

John the Baptist notes about Jesus that "He must increase, but I must decrease."

The chapter ends by emphasizing that eternal life is found in Christ: "He who believes in the Son has eternal life."

The BIY Companion, Vol I, has some good commentary on this:

In its opening words, John's Gospel establishes Jesus' identity... Jesus is not just another prophet, healer, or wise teacher. He is the Word made flesh - the divine Son of God... When John the Baptist sees Jesus coming toward him, he exclaims: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). To the Jews, a lamb is a sacrifice. Jesus is the Lamb who will be sacrificed on the Cross for the forgiveness of sins. He offers himself up to the Father on our behalf for our salvation... When Moses lifts up the bronze serpent in the wilderness, the sign of the people's sin becomes a sign of hope. (See Numbers 21.) This foreshadows Jesus lifted up on the Cross. The sign of sin and death becomes the sign of hope for all who believe in him. (p. 212)

II. Proverbs 5:1-6, we only have the first part of this. We see that, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

The dangers of adultery are contrasted with the delights of married life. (p. 967)

That's all for today!

Messiah Checkpoint #1: The Gospel of John

There are no readings today, but there is an introductory video to the next material with Fr. Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins. It seems rather odd to me that we are taking a break from the Old Testament narrative and jumping into the Fourth Gospel. Yet, that's the program, so I'm going with it and hopefully will understand this detour later.

The BIY Companion, Vol I, gives some good commentary on this "Messiah Checkpoint":

John shows that Jesus is the One who fulfills all of the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament. In Jesus, God "has a face" and dwells among his people. As Jesus says, "He who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). In the Old Testament, to see the face of God would result in death, but in his Son Jesus, God reveals himself completely and brings us into an intimate relationship with him. (p. 211)

That's all for today!