Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Compassion and Supplication


[Reflection for the 12th Sunday in ordinary Time Year C Zech 12:10-11;13:1, Gal 3:26-29, Lk 9:18-24]
The prophet Zechariah gives an uncommon prophecy, “I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of compassion and supplication...” This will enable them to raise their hearts and mourn for “him whom they have pierced.” The mourning to be evoked would be great as in the plain of Megiddo. Compassion of heart implies that they will associate themselves with the Pierced One, and allow his agony to pierce their own hearts. Then there will be an internal flow of cleansing, “a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem...” Thus, The Pierced One becomes the answer to their supplication as their hearts melt before Him.

So we are all heirs of this great promise since we have all been joined with Christ, we mourn for Him as one weeps for an only-begotten son. With our heads raised to His pierced side, we have become one people, drinking from the same fountain and sharing the same promise as Abraham’s offspring in faith. Our compassion and supplication has a common meeting point in Christ. On the Cross hangs the heart of every Christian! “There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph 4:5). We see from the second reading that The Pierced One has become the fountain of unity. His wound has healed our brokenness and disunity. 

A gaze at the Cross, full of compassion and supplication, is the right disposition we need to answer the question, “But who do you say that I am.” Unless our hearts are melted before Him as in the plain of Megiddo, there is every tendency to misinterpret “The Christ of God” as the one who saves through the cross. The Cross is the defining moment, the meeting point!

“If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Ironically, we are living in a society that is so much laden with many crosses, but which vehemently rebels against the idea of a cross! How can their wounds be healed? From which fountain will they be satisfied? Jesus announces, “The Son of man must suffer many things...” And all who lift up their hearts, who mourn with Him by accepting their daily crosses shall have the prophecy of Zechariah fulfilled in their lives—they shall drink from the fountain!
Therefore, our compassion and supplication become a participation in His Cross and Resurrection. By His wounds we have been healed (1 Pet 2:24). Our internal groaning, compassion and supplication, which is evoked by the Cross of Christ, brings healing and answers to our prayers. Yes, Jesus saves us from within! Our daily crosses, joined with Christ, now have a new meaning; they dispose us to drink freely from the fountain.  We cannot go through life without bearing one inconvenience or the other. If we have nothing to suffer, we have nothing to offer. 

The Cross of Christ is not the cause but a remedy to suffering. If we associate our pains with His—mourning for Him as in the plain of Meggido—we shall reign with Him (cf. 2Tim 2:12). Here we draw strength to carry on. Our compassion is deepened and becomes genuine, and our supplications are as heirs according to the promise made to Abraham’s offspring.

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Immaculate Heart Catholic Church,
Magodo, Sangotedo
Lagos, Nigeria.
19th June, 2016

No comments:

Post a Comment