We highlight many things this week. It's daylight savings time. Many college students celebrate spring break. St. Paddy's Day is Wednesday! St Joseph’s Day is Friday! And spring is coming.
At the center of our liturgical celebration, today is Laetare Sunday. Laetare is a Latin verb for “rejoice.” Because we are getting close to celebrating the Easter mystery. Jesus Christ is risen. And because he lives, we live.
Today’s Gospel according to John plays on the theme of light and darkness. Nicodemus recognizes Jesus as the light, someone who comes from God.
Then, Jesus uses an image to capture the purpose of his own life. Just as Moses lifted up an image of a snake on a pole so that all who looked on it could be saved, so Jesus had to be lifted up on a cross so that all could have eternal life. Jesus is indeed our way; our truth; our life.
During these Lenten days, I invite all of us to reflect on the Gospels so that we can better imitate the virtues Jesus displayed.
But first! Did you ever wonder what Jesus really looked like? There’s a tradition that says that the Shroud of Turin has the imprint of the crucified Jesus. That’s one portrait.
Great painters -- da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, El Greco, Rembrandt -- give us different images. You may have your own favorite portrait of Jesus.
The four Gospel writers faced a unique challenge. How do they portray someone who is completely human and yet completely divine?
Also, they wrote to different audiences. They too have different portraits of Jesus. Which Gospel is most authentic, which best reflects the historical Jesus? They all do.
Let me focus on Luke’s Gospel.
Luke was a Greek convert who wrote to Gentile Christians. Luke gives women a prominent role. Salvation is for everyone. He also emphasizes the power of the Spirit.
Luke sees Jesus as a friend and advocate of the poor, the handicapped, amazingly compassionate toward social outcasts. Jesus is also forgiving: remember the parable of the Prodigal Son. Even on the cross Jesus prays: Father, forgive them.
Yes, to be a disciple of Jesus, for Luke, is to be a healer, a reconciler, a peacemaker; someone who tries to build bridges. Above all, to be not only a hearer of God’s Word, but like the Virgin Mary, a doer of God’s Word.
Can we have different images of Jesus to inspire us? Of course. The Gospels show us four ways to follow Jesus, the God-man, who is more than any one person can adequately describe.
The question we might ask is this: how can I better reflect in my behavior and attitudes the attributes and virtues of Jesus?
The Gospel “portraits” underscore attributes Jesus displayed, virtues worthy of imitation in our life of discipleship with Jesus.
