The Gospel according to John (19:25-34)
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.
Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately Blood and water flowed out.
Reflection: In an earlier reflection of mine, I mentioned this series Friday Night Lights (recommended by our Seminarian Tommy Green). It’s a series about high school football and the people/families that surround this team in Texas. All of their lives were not perfect, in fact it was filled with drama and turmoil. But when it came to football on Friday night … game night. The town shutdown and everyone came together to unite as one team.
The football team had this mantra that they would say before a game. The coach would give them an inspirational speech and end it by saying, “Clear eyes; Full Heart” and the team would respond aloud, “Can’t Lose”! How I interpreted that was that if they did their part on the team by practicing hard and knowing their plays then they would understand the game plan with “Clear eyes”. When they practiced together, agonized together, were reprimanded together, and learned how to be successful together then they would protect each other as brothers in arms and have a “Full heart”. And by combining the two initiatives or these two promises then they would almost be assured a win because they “Can’t Lose”.
Today, in our world, it’s easy to judge people or issues. It’s easy to take a side and argue but our society is falling apart. We no longer are the UNITED as in the United States of America. We don’t have “Clear eyes” because our minds are occupied with turmoil and who’s right or wrong. We forget about our promise to God in regard to the Greatest commandment which to Love of God and our neighbor as we would love ourselves, therefore, our hearts are not full, in fact they are empty. If you combine these two empty promises, then we will lose. But there is time to make a change in you, your house, your church and in society.
If we go back to the basics and practice our faith by reading scripture and knowing what God is asking of you, then you will possess a clear mind therefore, having “Clear Eyes”. And if we accept to act as one united team of what we are asked to do by God then we will have a “Full Heart”. Now no one said it will be easy and we may have a hard time doing it but by making this effort then we “Can’t Lose”.
In today’s scripture, the crucifixion of Jesus united Mother Mary, Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary of Magdala, and the disciple John. The death of Jesus clearly opened their eyes and their heart as one united family so they couldn’t lose. Yesterday’s Second reading from 1 Corinthians 12: 12-13 clearly states, “As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.”
We are one united family. “Clear eyes; Full Heart” … Can’t Lose!
Action of the Day: Ask yourself this question; How do I interpret “Clear eyes and Full heart”?
Audio Reflection:
