Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
In the first reading from the prophet Jeremiah, we hear the emphasis on God as the one who knows all: “I knew their plot because the LORD informed me; at that time you, O LORD, showed me their doings” (Jer 11:18). Even as a prophet—one who speaks for God—however, Jeremiah struggles to understand what God is telling him. This is especially true when Jeremiah’s expectations contrast with what God tells him. Often, too, the word that God expects Jeremiah to deliver contrasts sharply with the expectations of the people to whom he is called to deliver it. This made for some difficult trials for Jeremiah!
The difference between God’s work/message and our expectations is clearly on display in today’s gospel reading. Galilee, where Jesus grew up, was at the northern end of Palestine. It was considered by Jews to be a “backwater” area. They didn’t expect much from its inhabitants, who were assumed to be what we might call “hicks.” Some of the crowd and the Pharisees cannot see Jesus for who He really is—the Christ—because of their expectations about Galilee. They cannot see that God’s power extends beyond human expectation. Significantly, Nicodemus is an important player in this passage. In Nicodemus’s earlier conversation with Jesus (John 3), he is confused by Jesus’ message of eternal life and goes away without having come to understanding. It is Nicodemus, the one who could not understand Jesus at the beginning of the gospel, who chastises the Pharisees for condemning Jesus without a fair hearing. Of course, the Pharisees think him a “hick” too.
There is an important lesson here about the work of God exceeding our expectations. God’s actions do not always conform to our expectations. What are our expectations about where “good” and “bad” people come from? Who do we expect to come from West Dayton? Who do we expect to come from Oakwood? Who do we expect to come from New York? From Kentucky? From California? From Mexico? From Africa? From India? From France? From Saudi Arabia? From Afghanistan?
When there’s a knock at our door from a stranger do we open it or do we act like we’re not home? When there’s a migrant on the street, do we roll down the window or act like we can’t see through it? Do we acknowledge a person asking for help or do we act like we can’t hear?
For those that have eyes to see and ears to hear, the Holy Spirit is working in all of these places, can we find Him? What’s our expectation? Chances are God will shatter those expectations.
– Tim Gabrielli