4th Week of Easter 2021 - Tuesday - Jesus and Hanukkah

 

Several months after the Lord’s great discourse on the Good Shepherd, we read in today’s passage he’s still talking about sheep. This time he’s not talking to a group of pharisees, but to a group of Jews in Jerusalem who have made their way to the temple for the observance of the feast of the Dedication, what is called in Hebrew, Hannukah, which is still observed by Jews to this day.

What is Hanukkah? In the year 168 BC, the land of Judah was ruled over by the Greco-Syrian king Antiochus Epiphanes. The king started a massive persecution of the Jews, outlawing religious practices under pain of death and desecrating the temple by setting up in it a blasphemous statue of a pagan god. This sparked outrage among some Jews, leading to an armed Jewish rebellion called the Maccabean revolt named after its leader Judas Maccabaeus. A few years into the rebellion, the Jewish fighters recaptured the temple. They purified and rededicate it, making it suitable for worship once again. A joyous eight-day festival, Hanukkah, was instituted to celebrate the temple’s rededication and to praise God for victory.

The Lord’s teaching on sheep, hearing his voice, following him, being preserved from death, is particularly poignant in light of the Jewish festival being celebrated as he taught. For fresh in the minds of his audience was this Messiah figure, Judas Maccabaeus who brought salvation from the murderous blasphemous king. The Jews even ask him, are you the Messiah? In other words, have you come to do what Judas Maccabaeus has done?

And the Lord answers, “I’ve told you who I am, and you haven’t believed.” Yes, he’s a Messiah, but the salvation he’s come to bring, isn’t merely from a murderous blasphemous King, but from all the powers of darkness and sin and death. The Lord isn’t merely a human instrument of the God of Israel, like Judas Maccabaeus, he is one with the God of Israel, he IS the God of Israel. And Jesus says this, while walking in the Temple portico! 

You can guess what happens next. In the very next verse after today’s passage, we’d read of the Jews picking up rocks to stone Jesus to death for blasphemy! Because they’ve failed to believe that He is God, what Jesus just said is just as bad as King Antiochus erecting that blasphemous statue!

In contrast, Christians affirm and celebrate Jesus’ claim to be one with the Father. And we work and pray that all peoples may come to believe that He is the true light of the temple. He is the fulfillment of the Father’s plan of salvation. He is the Good Shepherd, and we do well to heed his voice and follow Him, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Filled with Paschal joy, let us turn earnestly to God, to graciously hear our prayers and supplications.

For Pope Francis and Bishop Malesic, that they may have the strength to govern wisely the flock entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd and for an increase in vocations to the ordained priesthood, and that our priests may serve the Church with the love and devotion of the Good Shepherd.

For our parish, that we may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ and his tender love for sinners and for the poor.

For members of Christ’s flock who have wandered far from the Church: for the desire and will to return to the Sacraments; for deliverance from all spiritual evils and an increase in virtue for the faithful. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or disease: that they may know the peace and consolation of the Good Shepherd. Let us pray to the Lord.

That all of our beloved dead and all the souls in purgatory may come to the glory of the Resurrection.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the desires of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our lord.