Caring God

The wicked said among themselves, thinking not aright: “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.  He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD. To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us, because his life is not like that of others, and different are his ways.  He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father. 

Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.” These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them, and they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls’ reward. (Wisdom 2:1A, 12-22)

The Book of Wisdom was written about 100 years before the coming of Christ.  Many passages from this book were used by the church for its liturgy.  Most of us likely never have read this book.  At the very least we should read the book’s summary to better understand how the church used it in its development of the liturgy and Gospels, especially the parts with the Passion of Christ.  Easter 2020 is April 12; therefore, this March 27 reading continues to ramp us up in preparation for Holy Week.

Some have said these verses of Wisdom are a direct prophecy of the Passion of our Lord.  I’m of a different mind.  These powerful Wisdom verses were selected by Gospel writers to support their and community beliefs and to make sense out of Jesus’ life and death.

These verses were used to focus on the wicked who with revilement and torture put Jesus to the test to seek proof of Jesus’ gentleness and try his patience.  They decided to condemn him to a shameful death, “for according to his own words, God will take care of him.”

We can apply these words to our lives.  We believe, or at least hope, that God will take care of us enabling us to deal with those who may revile us and torture us through words or actions.  Some try to shame us through social media, for example.   We try to be patience and even gentle, but that can be difficult for we who are innocent.

Holy Week approaches.   Let’s reflect on and be guided by Wisdom.  It is the wicked who are blinded.  Innocent souls are rewarded because God will take care of them.

Deacon David Pierce