40 Days of Seeking Him 2011 ~ Day 36

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As I needed more time to consider my reflection upon Palm Sunday, I opted to do the crafty post yesterday.

Palm Sunday had the extra Gospel reading at the beginning so that we went from Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem all the way through the his death on the Cross.  As these readings needed little explanation, our pastor had a brief homily.

There were a few comments he made that I thought would be good to share today.

First off…when you hear the date May 2, 1984, what comes to mind?

For me, I can honestly say I was probably deep in the throws of school projects and early studying for final exams as Louisiana finishes school before Memorial Day.

That day, however, marks the time President Reagan and Pope John Paul II had an impromptu meeting in Fairbanks.  It was the only time they met alone and it leaves some to wonder what they talked about during that meeting.  Considering the changes that occurred in the next few years with regard to Communism’s hold in places such as Poland and East Germany, it does allow some to hypothesize they could have been planning how to accomplish that without blood shed.

I didn’t catch the entire quote from one individual working in the solidarity labor movement in Poland, but I did jot down a fraction of it. 

“Violence is a sign of weakness.”

Christ came and through his actions and teachings transformed the world.  And he did is without violence.  He was our Savior, but he was not the warrior king some Jews hoped would come to rid Israel of Roman rule.

Instead, victory is being won through faith and the strength of people’s hearts.

And, in the end, the Cross is a sign of strength.

On a related note to the readings that day, I am still mulling over something brought up at the Youth Retreat that day.  Using the idea of Lectio Divina, the youth heard the Psalm of the day (Psalm 22) read aloud twice and had opportunity for reflection.  The adult leading that portion of the retreat mentioned the the Psaltar was memorized by the Jews and that for many the first line could be quoted and others would know the entire Psalm being referenced.

The first line for Psalm 22 is “My God, My God, why have you foresaken me?”

During the Psalm at Mass, this is the line we repeat between different stanzas.  So, in a way, it is the line that should refer us back to the Psalm as a whole.  In the Passion reading, Christ utters these words before he relinquished his life.  Going on the assumption that other Jews would recognize it as the ‘take home’ line for that Psalm, I am now puzzled as to why someone in the crowd would think he was calling Elijah for help.

So, this is an item I plan to spend a little time ruminating and researching.  I did find one website with a bit of background, though.  I would have considered asking at the Youth Retreat.  But, being an adult there to help with the Jeopardy game on the Miracles of Jesus, I decided to not ask.  As it was, we went over time.  But, for the second event to help start up a youth group, that was a good thing!