This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.
Sometimes, somewhat enlightened by the perspective of history, we scoff at the disciples of Jesus for expecting Him to take over as an earthly ruler; even immediately prior to His Ascension back into Heaven, after all He had been through, they still asked Him if the time of Israel’s earthly restoration had come (cf. Acts 1:6).
But if we look at the Old Testament prophecies from the perspective that they had, their persistent emphasis on the earthly kingdom of Israel does not appear so outlandish. The prophecy of the definitive rule of a descendant of David is a persistent theme in Scripture. How were the disciples to know that the literal return of the Kingdom of Israel would not occur with the coming of the Messiah?
Today’s first reading is another example. One almost imagines this prophecy and its fulfillment as fruit of a sense of humor on God’s part. The prophecy speaks of Jerusalem drawing rulers from afar and receiving rich gifts from them. How would anyone reading the prophecy imagine that the three rulers to come would arrive quietly and leave in secret, and that their gifts wouldn’t be showered upon the literal city of Jerusalem, but presented to its infant heavenly King in the humblest of stables?
We may feel smug, imagining that while the disciples were clueless, we have been clued in. We understand that there is some metaphor in the prophecies that foreshadow Jesus, even while He fulfills them marvelously, profoundly.
But are we so fully read in on the history of salvation? What about our own lives? Sure, we have a sense of the importance of our vocations, as the disciples ultimately did, but do we fully understand how and when the story ends? And what about the relevance of each day of our own lives to the bigger picture? Do we have a handle on that? And, aren’t we too guilty of taking an overly earthly viewpoint of things, at times–jubilant when our political candidate wins, seeing it as some sort of divine sign, and becoming utterly deflated when our candidate loses?
The truth is, we have gained beautiful insights through Revelation about the mission of Jesus and of the Church. Still, when it comes to our own lives, we walk in the chiaroscuro of faith and trust, just like the disciples, just like Our Lady (who did so most elegantly).
If the disciples ultimately just needed to place their trust in the person of Christ, without full understanding, then so do we.
Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Ask Jesus to help you respond to the mysteries of your Christian life with humble trusting faith. Read Mary’s Magnificat proclaimed to Elizabeth in Luke 1, and examine with her if you rejoice with such confident gratitude, in the midst of the many uncertainties your life holds (as hers did). Ask Jesus to help your trust to be focused on His Person, rather than your understanding of the ins and outs of His plan.
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