Saturday, April 16, 2011

Rocks

I'm posting this a little late, but I haven't gotten the opportunity to write it until now.  The first line of Friday's Gospel really struck me (pardon the pun):

The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. (Jn 10:31)

Immediately I thought:  What irony!  They would pick up little hand-held rocks with which to stone the Rock of Ages.

My mind started to explore the imagery, and what it might mean.  Their small rocks are the precepts of the Old Law, which as St. Paul teaches us, has no power to save.  In contrast is the person of Jesus and his New Commandment, to love one another as I have loved you.  The Jews can throw their rocks, but they will just shatter and bounce off of what is much harder and stronger.

And, figuratively speaking, this is just what happens in the story - he says to them,  "I have shown you many good works from my Father.  For which of these are you trying to stone me?"  They reply (in an audibly frustrated tone), "we are not stoning you for a good work, but for blasphemy."

Their slavish attachment to the letter of the Law rather than to its Author causes them to let fly petty accusations, which of course simply shatter and are deflected by the love and truth that He is.

While I'm on the topic of Christ as the Rock, check out these lines from Psalm 105:
[Psalm 105 is a recounting of salvation history, from Abraham, all the way to the Israelites in the desert.]

He pierced the rock to give them water;
it gushed forth in the desert like a river.

Now, if Christ is the Rock, then look at the symbolism of the rock in the desert from which God gave the Israelites water.  Here, the psalmist uses the words, "He pierced the rock." (referring to Moses striking the rock with his staff)  That word choice is very telling: Jesus' side was pierced, and blood and water flowed out.  St. John Chrysostom teaches us that the blood signifies the Eucharist, and the water, Baptism - both of which give life to the Church, the bride of Christ, born from the side of his dead body, just as Eve was created from the side of Adam as he slept.

And so, we see just how important Baptism is, since it gives us life while we are yet surrounded by the desolation of the desert.  Baptism comes to us from Jesus, who was pierced for our offenses.

Just some thoughts.  Have a good Holy Week!

1 comment:

  1. Dear Stephen,

    I am the Director of Communications for The Maximus Group, a Catholic commmunications firm in the Atlanta area. If you are still living in Wetumpka, I'd like to invite you to an event coming up in Montgomery. Can you please email me at tlilley@maximusmg.com? Thank you so much. I hope to hear from you. God Bless,

    Tim Lilley
    Director of Commmunications
    The Maximus Group
    www.maximusmg.com

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