Homily: Friday of the 4th Week of Lent - A psychology of evil

Wisdom 2:1, 12-22 View Readings

Psalm 34:17-21, 23

John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

During the final weeks of Lent, the readings detail the growing hostility towards Jesus culminating in his crucifixion.  Why do Jesus’ enemies hate him so?  Our first reading from the book of Wisdom gives us a glimpse of the dysfunctional thinking of the wicked as they plot against the righteous man.

“Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, he reproaches us for transgression of the law.”  The wicked in this passage conspire to condemn the just man to a shameful death because he reminds them of their impurity. 

A line from John’s Gospel says, “everyone who practices evil hates the light”.   The wicked come to love their sin more than they love the truth.  They call what is good, “evil” and what is evil, “good.” 

This reading helps us to understand the thinking of those who plotted to kill Jesus in the final days of his life.  

For, Jesus, the just man, came to free us from our sins.  But those attached to their sins felt threatened by that.

Secondly, this reading is a reminder that, if we are living the Gospel, if we are preaching it in our words and actions, we will, like Jesus experience resistance and persecution.  Although many non-Christians pride themselves on being tolerant, hostility towards the Roman Catholic Church and the Christian Gospel continues to mount in this increasingly wicked age. 

There was a story this week about a religious sister, a Dominican, who gave an assembly at a Catholic High School on the Church’s moral teachings.  Students and parents were outraged when she presented, clearly, the Church’s teaching on abortion, homosexuality, and birth control.  How fallen have we become when a Catholic nun cannot teach the Catholic faith at a Catholic school?!

Yet, Jesus pronounces us “blessed” when we are persecuted for his sake.  And many, who are yearning for the truth, and yearning for the freedom of Christ’s Gospel will respond positively.

Thirdly, this passage from Wisdom is good examination of conscience for each of us.  Have I, like the wicked man, resisted God’s truth.  Have I turned away from the Church’s moral teachings?  Have I resisted the call to fast, pray, and give alms this Lent? Have I justified my own small acts of wickedness?

Amid ferocious opposition, Jesus publicly and boldly proclaimed the word of God.  May we turn away from all sin, and courageously proclaim the saving Truth of Jesus Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.