Nicodemus is supporting the body of Jesus in the painting.
Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland)
https://www.universalis.com/20240310/mass.htm
Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)
Gospel John 3:14-21 (English Standard Version Anglicised, India)
Jesus said to
Nicodemus:
As Moses lifted up the serpent in
the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that
whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgement: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
The Pharisees generally have a bad name and the adjective 'pharisaical' is defined in Merriam-Webster as marked by hypocritical censorious self-righteousness. Those words could certainly describe most of the Pharisees we meet in the gospels. But they do not apply to Nicodemus. He was patently a good man who said to Jesus when he met him at night, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him (John 3:2). He was also with Jesus at the end helping to prepare for the burial. Nicodemus, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight (John 19:39).
This good Pharisee can help us come to the light, especially when that involves walking through the darkness. Physical darkness is part of the reality that God has given us and can protect us against the cosmic powers over this present darkness (Ephesians 6:12), as it did Nicodemus when he came by night to visit Jesus.
God has given us many examples of persons willing to confront the cosmic powers over this present darkness even at the risk of their lives. One such person is Sister Ann Roza Nu Tawng in Myitkyina ['mitchinAH'], the capital of the Kachin State, a mountainous area a little larger than Ireland and a little smaller than Mindanao in the far north of Myanmar. Three years ago this week she knelt in front of armed police pleading with them not to harm protesters. In an interview shown in the Sky News video below Sister Ann Roza said, And I thought today is the day I will die. I decided to die . . . I thought it would be better if I died instead of many people.
Sister Ann Roza's actions and words reflect those of the assassinated Pakistani politician Shahbaz Bhatti about whom I wrote for the last two Sundays: I'm living for my community and suffering people and I will die to defend their rights.
Catholic Christians like Sister Ann Roza and Shahbaz Bhatti show that our Christian faith is a way of life in following Jesus, living every moment according to the Gospel, bringing the values of Jesus into every human situation. In the words of St Paul in today's Second Reading: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). [The Jerusalem Bible translation reads: We are God’s work of art, created . . .].
Persons such as Shahbaz Bhatti and Sister Ann Roza are the true face of the Church. They come from two Asian countries, Pakistan and Myanmar, where Christians are a small minority. Their witness to Jesus and the Gospel brings us the light of hope and proves the truth of his words today, For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Traditional Latin Mass
Fourth Sunday in Lent
The complete Mass in Latin and English is here. (Adjust the date at the top of that page to 03-10-2024 if necessary).
Epistle: Galatians 4:22-31. Gospel: John 6:1-15.
Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” (John 6:5; Gospel).
Dearest Father Seán,
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Sister Ann Roza was another courageous person living her Faith!
Let us hope there will be more strong Christians that dare to stand up to the evil in this world.
Hugs,
Mariette