BIBLE STUDY: March 11th
The meeting opened with prayer.
After a short introduction, we proceeded to consider the eleventh & twelfth Stations.
The Eleventh Station: Jesus promises his kingdom to the repentant thief.
Luke 23:39-43
39
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us."
40
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation?
41
And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal."
42
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43
He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
We noted that the "good thief" acknowledged his wrongdoing, recognized Jesus as Messiah and as doing nothing wrong, and was repentant, entrusting himself to Jesus' care.
There was some discussion whether "today you will be with me in Paradise" meant the thief went straight to Heaven and, so to speak, 'missed out Purgatory'. It was, however, suggested that the thief would not be ready for the full beatic vision of God without some purgation, also it was pointed out that Purgatory was, so to speak, that part of Heaven where souls underwent purgation before seeong God face to face. We were sure, however, that the thief would be seeing Jesus again that same day in the afterlife.
As the passage from Luke was quite short and no other evangelist records this incident, we reflected on the need to acknowledge our sin, repent and trust Jesus by readibg from the first letter of St John:
1 John 1:5-2:2
5
Now this is the message that we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.
6
If we say, "We have fellowship with him," while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth.
7
But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.
8
If we say, "We are without sin," we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9
If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.
10
If we say, "We have not sinned," we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1
My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.
2
He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.
One or two of the group had a problem with verse 10: "If we say, 'We have not sinned', we make him [God] a liar," But the point is that John is not saying that God is a liar, but that we make him out to be a liar if we claim that we are without sin, since God sent his son to redeem us from sin. Also we read in St Paul's letter to the Romans: "all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). Either we claim we are sinless and that God lies in telling us otherwise, or we acknowledge the truth of God's word, confess our sin and entrust ourselves to Jesus who is "God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God."
The Twelfth Station: The crucified Jesus speaks to his Mother and the disciple.
John 19:25-27
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Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
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When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son."
27
Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
There was some discussion about just how many women were standing at the foot of the cross. Was it just three, i.e. was Mary the wife of Clopas the sister of Mary, mother of Jesus? It is unlikely that two sisters would bear the same name. It is more likely that John means: (a) Mary, mother of Jesus, (b) Mary's unnamed sister1, (c) Mary, wife of Clopas, (d) Mary of Magdala. It was agreed, however, that the question of the number and identity of all the women had no bearing on Jesus' entrusting his mother to John.
1 The unnamed sister is possibly the woman whom Mark names 'Salome' (Mark 15:40), and whom Matthew says is the mother of Zebedee's children (Matt.27:56), James and John. If this is so, it would mean that John is Jesus' cousin.
It was noted that Jesus would not have entrusted his widowed mother to John's care unless Mary had no sons of her own to look after her. In other words, this is a clear indication of the error of those those who, like the 4th century writer, Helvidius, maintain that the 'sisters' and 'brothers' of Jesus mentioned in the Gospels were children of Mary and Joseph. The Church has consistenly, since at least the 2nd century, taught the perpetual virginity of Mary. The bothers and sisters mentioned in the Gospels are considered by some to have been the children of Joseph by a former marriage (this view is the dominant one in the Orthodox churches) or to have been first cousins (the more common view in the western, Catholic Church).
It was recalled that at Jesus' first miracle at the wedding in Cana, Jesus had addressed his mother as "Woman", as he does here. On that occasion, however, he had told his mother that his hour had not yet come. Now his hour has come and we read that "from that hour the disciple took her into his home."
The "disciple .... whom he loved" is representative of all Christ's disciples, since he loves us all. Jesus has finished the work he came on earth to do; his hour has come and before he hands over his spirit (John 19:30, which we shallconsider next week), his mother is given her role as the mother of all Christians.
A woman played an important role in the Garden of Eden when man sinned; another woman, Mary, the 'Second Eve', plays a significant role as man is redeemed from sin. So we read:
Genesis 3:14-15
14
Then the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals and from all the wild creatures; On your belly shall you crawl, and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life.
15
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel."
We understand the serpent to be Satan. A woman whose offspring will crush Satan is promised. The offspring is Jesus and Mary is the woman. So, as we contemplated Mary both as the Mother of all Christians and as the Second Eve, we turned to read Mary's hymn, the Magnificant, which is recited every day by Holy Church in the office of Vespers (Evening Prayer):
Luke 1:46-55
46
And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
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my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
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For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
49
The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50
His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
51
He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
52
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.
53
The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.
54
He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,
55
according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
It was noted that Mary's hymn is reminiscent of Hannah's hymn of praise when she thanked God because she has borne a son, Samuel, despite her previous sterility (1 Sam. 2:1-10). It also contains allusions to several passages found in the Psalms.
The view that Luke inserted an existing Jewish-Christian hymn at this point was mentioned, since it is held by some that the hymn is out of context and that a young teenager would not have had the skill to compose such a hymn. It was, however, pointed out that Mary would have been familiar with the Old Testament scriptures and that Luke tells us that she was filled with the Holy Spirit. We saw no reason why a young girl, familar with the scripures, would not, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, have sung such a hymn of praise, fortelling her son as he one who was "destined for the rise and fall of many many in Israel". This, we felt sure, was the strength that kept Mary faithful to her son, and would sustain her, even though her son's work meant that a sword would pierce her own soul, so that she became the mother of all Christians everywhere throughout all ages.
Luke 2:33-35
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The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
34
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted
35
(and a sword will pierce your own soul) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
Amen
For next week
Those present were reminded that next week shall
be considering Stations 13 & 14: Jesus dies on the cross; Jesus is laid in the tomb. It was suggested
that members look at the scriptural passages concerned beforehand.
Conclusion
(Payer of St Alphonsus Liguori)
I love you Jesus, my Love, above all things;
I repent with my whole heart for having offended you.
Never permit me to separate myself from you again.
Grant that I may love you always,
then do with me what you will.
Amen.
Our Lady - pray for us.
St Peter - pray for us.
Most of the scripture texts on this page are taken from the New American
Bible with Revised New Testament and Revised Psalms © 1991, 1986, 1970
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C.
