Day 266: Son of the father

Matthew 27:1-10 Judas was remorseful for having betrayed Christ, but his remorse lacked faith and trust in God’s forgiveness and mercy. Note how the chief priests were less concerned about their role in the conspiracy to unjustly arrest and kill Christ than they were about fulfilling the Law by not placing the “blood money” in the Temple treasury. (CCC 2468)

Ch 27:11-31 The Jewish authorities were prevented under Roman law from executing Christ, so they brought him before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, who could order his execution. (CCC 597-598)

Ch 27:26, 29: Christ’s scourging was a horrific punishment reserved for the worst of criminals and rebellious slaves, a series of lashes with leather whips that had metal hooks or other sharp objects attached to it so as to rip and puncture the skin with every blow. His crowning with thorns and mocking at the hands of Gentile soldiers show how his rejection and Death were the work of both Gentiles and Jews. (CCC 596, 591)

Ch 27:32-56 The jeering crowd, the dividing of the clothes, Christ’s cry of abandonment from the Cross, as well as many other details of the Passion are direct fulfillments of Old Testament prophecies. Christ’s intense suffering in his Body and Soul were real and unmitigated by his divine nature. Christ’s refusal of the gall, used as a painkiller, showed his willingness to accept all of the suffering required by the Redemption. He experienced an excruciating death naturally involving the separation of body and soul as he bore the weight of the sins of all people. (CCC 515, 585, 599-602)

Ch 27:46 These words, which begin Psalm 22, give voice to great suffering. While the words, at first glance, seem to show despair, the psalm ends with rousing words of glory and victory. (CCC 603, 2853)

Ch 27:50 The Death and Resurrection of Christ occurred at a specific time in history. Nevertheless, the redemptive sacrifice is made present sacramentally in every celebration of the Holy Mass. Through this celebration, we can unite our work and suffering to our Lord’s own Sacrifice on the Cross, re-presented in the Eucharistic Sacrifice. (CCC 613-614, 1364)

Ch 27:51 The curtain of the temple is torn in two: This curtain separated the people from God’s presence in the Holy of Holies, the inner sanctum of the Temple, where the high priest alone would make sacrifices in the presence of God on behalf of the people once a year. Its tearing apart symbolizes the reconciliation of God and humanity, the rending of what separated the human person from God. The Old Covenant had fulfilled its role and was giving way to the New Covenant in Christ. The fact that the curtain was torn from top to bottom suggests it was an act of God. (CCC 586)

Ch 27:52-53 Many bodies of the saints...were raised...appeared to many: It is not clear whether the saints’ appearances referred to apparitions or a true return to bodily human life, but it may also refer to the salvation of those who had died under the Old Covenant and before the reconciliation of God and humanity. The Church teaches that after his Death, as we profess in the Apostles’ Creed, Christ “descended into hell”-here meaning not the eternal Hell, but a kind of intermediate state or Purgatory for the just men and women of the Old Covenant waiting for the gates of Heaven to open up for them. This was sometimes referred to as Abraham’s bosom (cf. Lk 16:22). (CCC 624, 627, 632-637)

Ch 27:54 Truly this was the Son of God: It is not clear whether the centurion was confessing the Messiah or as a divine being. “Son of God” was often used in the Old Testament to refer to one who had an especially close relationship with God, similar to an “adopted son.” The term was applied at various times to the faithful, to angels, or to certain Jewish leaders. (CCC 441) 

Ch 27:55-56 Mary the mother of James and Joseph: This Mary and her sons were relatives of Christ, but clearly this Mary was not his Mother, and James and Joseph were not literal brothers. This conclusion is reinforced later when this woman is referred to as “the other Mary” (Mt 28:1). The various parts of the Passion and Death of Christ are commemorated in many ways in the liturgy and worship today, including the Sacrifice of the Mass, the Liturgy of Good Friday, the reading of the Passion narrative on Palm Sunday, and the popular devotion of the Stations of the Cross. (CCC 500)

Ch 27:57-66 The Jews bought a hasty burial of Christ’s body because he was crucified on the eve of the Sabbath, the eve of Passover; thus, no work could be done after nightfall that evening through the next day. (CCC 500, 624-627, 631-635, 2171-2172)

Ch 28:1-10 Christians celebrate Sunday as the Lord’s Day because it is the day of Christ’s Resurrection-the “eighth day” after the Sabbath and the “first day” of the week, symbolizing the new creation that took place through the Redemption. It is important to note that the first day of the week refers to the first day of the new Creation inaugurated by the Resurrection of Christ. (CCC 500, 652, 2174)

Ch 28:9-10 Took hold of his feet: The body of the Risen Christ had physical properties and, therefore, could be touched, but it is a new and glorious body.

Tell my brethren: This is the first time in Matthew that Christ refers to the disciples as his brothers; it indicates the filial relationship of the faithful as adopted sons of God the Father. The redemption merited the sanctifying grace by which we share in the divine life and, thereby, we can become children of God. 

Do not be afraid: Christ gives us the same message to rejoice because his Death and Resurrection have conquered sin and death once and for all. (CCC 641, 645, 654)

Ch 28:11-15 The bribing of the soldiers by the elders so they could claim Christ’s body had been stolen by the disciples did little to slow the spread of the news of his Resurrection. The fact that a bribe was tendered points out that the soldiers and elders had no other explanation for the empty tomb. (CCC 640)

Ch 28:16-17 Some doubted: Despite all of Christ’s predictions and appearances, the disciples still called the Resurrection into doubt. This doubt provides evidence that the physical Resurrection of Christ did in fact take place and was not a conspiratorial deception or a fanciful expression of the disciples’ faith. (CCC 644-645)

Ch 28:18-20 All authority in heaven and on earth: Being the Son of God, Christ possessed the authority to delegate or share his power with his Apostles and their successors, who confer his grace through the Sacraments and act in the name of Christ. (CCC 1444-1445, 2049-2051, 2156, 2165)

Ch 28:19-20 The Church is by nature missionary for it was Christ who sent his Apostles forth throughout the world to proclaim the Gospel, telling them to “make disciples of all nations.” We call the Church “catholic” (“universal”) because Christ, through the Church, seeks the salvation of all people. The graces of the Redemption come to individuals through the Sacraments of the Church, beginning with Baptism. 

I am with you always: Christ is with us in many ways, but especially through the Sacraments of the Church. He is also present in the Church’s teachings, which he guards from all error. (CCC 2, 189, 730, 767, 788, 831, 860, 1122, 1257)

Ch 28:19 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: This Trinitarian formula given to us by Christ forms the beginning of every Christian prayer, including the liturgical prayer of the Church. The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, often referred to as Trinity Sunday, is celebrated on the Sunday following Pentecost. (CCC 189, 232, 1122, 1276, 2156)

Ch 28:20 I am with you always: Christ’s promise to remain with the Church is fulfilled in his mystical presence among us and in the Sacraments, particularly the Eucharist; it is also manifest in the Holy Spirit, who protects the teaching authority of the Church from error. (CCC 1-2, 80-83, 849-850, 1223, 2743)

(*The Didache Bible RSV-CE Ignatius Edition, 2006)

• We are in the DOUBLE DIGITS TO GO in The Bible in a Year!!

• WELL DONE!!

• Today is the last day of the Messianic Checkpoint

• Tomorrow we start THE RETURN!!

• We spent SO MUCH TIME in The Exile reading through all the prophets and now we have The Return

• We will start with Ezra, then Haggai, then Zechariah, Nehemiah, Esther, etc.

• SO GET EXCITED!!

• One thing about Matthew

• This might be strange for some people

• In every Catholic Church, there is an ALTAR

• In every altar, there is an ALTAR STONE

• In every alter stone, there is a RELIC

• A RELIC is basically a piece of bone, most likely, of a saint that had died

• Someone who gave glory to the Lord with their life

• That tradition comes way back in the Early Church when the Church had to celebrate mass underground in the catacombs

• Oftentimes they would use the sarcophagi, the coffins, of saints as the altar

• So there is this connection 

• Here are our ANCESTORS IN THE FAITH

• Here are the ONES WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US

• We remember them and ASK FOR THEIR INTERCESSION

• Just like Fr. Mike asks us to PRAY FOR HIM

• Just like Fr. Mike PRAYS FOR YOU

• WE INTERCEDE FOR ONE ANOTHER

• We also know as we heard Jesus say two days ago, “God is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living.” (Would you like a review? Go read Day 264: Preaching Without Practice in The Bible in a Year Study Guide 😁)

• THEREFORE ALL THOSE WHO DIE IN HIM ARE STILL ALIVE!!

• OF COURSE THEY CAN OFFER PRAYERS FOR US!! (Yeah, Catholics DO NOT WORSHIP SAINTS!! 🤯)

• JUST LIKE YOU AND I CAN OFFER PRAYERS FOR EACH OTHER!!

• So we have that RELIC as a REMINDER of that saint and those who have gone before us

• The way God has worked in the lives of IMPERFECT PEOPLE to give glory

• BUT…

• Also as that TIE TO HISTORY AS WELL

• Also as a TIE TO RIGHT NOW

• When we get to The Book of Revelation, we will see ALL THOSE SAINTS IN HEAVEN

• ALL OF THOSE IN HEAVEN….saints with a “lower case s”

• ANYONE who is baptized

• EVERYONE who is in Heaven 

• The HOLY ONES are the SAINTS

• We see all those SAINTS in The Book of Revelation gathered around the THRONE OF THE LAMB and they are OFFERING UP PRAYERS

• When we pray the Mass ON EARTH, we are JOINING the prayer of the Mass in Heaven

• The Glory to the Father in the Power of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ

• We are joining that HEAVENLY WORSHIP THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW!! (Would you like a visual to perhaps help you understand better? Go watch this video: The Veil Removed - Film 🤯🤯🤯)

• That RELIC in the altar is a REMINDER of that

• All that background is to say that in Fr. Mike’s diocese in Duluth, Minnesota in the CATHEDRAL, the relic underneath the altar in the cathedral is of ST. MATTHEW THE APOSTLE!!

• THIS IS REMARKABLE!!

• THEY HAVE A PIECE OF THE BONE OF THE MAN WHO WROTE THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW!!

• THE TAX COLLECTOR WHO WAS CALLED FROM HIS CUSTOMS POST BY JESUS WHO SAID, “COME FOLLOW ME!”

• THE MAN WHO GOT UP AND FOLLOWED AFTER THE LORD!!

• So we see this LIVING CONNECTION 

• We see this HISTORICAL CONNECTION 

• THIS CONNECTION BETWEEN THE EARLY CHURCH WITH THIS PARTICULAR APOSTLE WHOSE GOSPEL WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO FOR THE LAST EIGHT OR NINE DAYS!!

• WOW!!

• WHAT A GIFT!!

• MORE OF A GIFT THAN ANY ONE CHRISTIAN, ANY ONE APOSTLE IS THE GREAT SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST!!

• We have the inspection of Jesus by Pilate

• We have his SILENCE

• We have the crowd that chooses Barabbas over Jesus

• We might have mentioned this in one of the other Messianic Checkpoints

• It is compelling to recognize the name of BARABBAS

• “Bar-” in Hebrew means “son of”

• “Abba” in Hebrew means “father”

• So BARABBAS means SON OF THE FATHER!! (Do you remember when we first learned this? Go back and read Day 104: The Priestly Prayer of Jesus in The Bible in a Year Study Guide for a refresher 😁)

• We have Jesus who is THE SON OF THE FATHER

• We have Barabbas, the one GUILTY son of the father who was an insurrectionist, who was guilty of murder

• We have Jesus who was COMPLETELY INNOCENT

• What did the people want?

• The people want the MURDERER to be released to them

• This FALSE son of the father 

• And they were willing to give up to SACRIFICE...

• They were willing to give up to CRUCIFIXION...

• THE ACTUAL TRUE SON OF THE FATHER

• We see this happening ALL OVER THE PLACE in the Old Testament

• Remember Jacob and Esau and how Esau was willing to trade his birthright for a BOWL OF STEW...SOME RED STUFF!!(Do you remember reading this? Go back and read Day 13: Esau Sells His Birthright in The Bible in a Year Study Guide for a review 😁)

• Here we are willing to TRADE OUR BIRTHRIGHT…

• THE GIFT GOD HAS GIVEN US…

• FOR WHATEVER SIN WE WANT…

• MY OWN WILL…

• NOT GOD’S WILL!!

• Here are the people of Israel and OUR HEARTS ARE ALL THE SAME

• No matter how different we might be

• Different timeframes

• Different locations

• Different cultures

• OUR HEARTS ARE THE SAME!!

• Our hearts are SO TEMPTED to choose the FALSE instead of the TRUE

• To choose the BROKEN instead of the WHOLE

• To choose BARABBAS instead of the TRUE SON OF GOD, THE TRUE SON OF THE FATHER

• It’s also interesting that once we have gone through the prophets, to recognize how the people are saying, “Let his blood be on us and on our children.”

• There is an element there that has sometimes been used to JUSTIFY OPPRESSION or MISTREATMENT OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE 

• THAT IS NEVER JUSTIFIED AT ALL EVER!!

• BUT…

• This has been written by Matthew

• Matthew recorded that they had said this

• He is recording this in some ways as a PROPHET (remember prophets FORTHTELL as well as FORETELL 😉)

• JEREMIAH said the same thing

• EZEKIEL said the same thing

• ISAIAH said the same thing

• “If you don’t REPENT, here is what is going to happen. The BLOOD OF THE INNOCENT IS GOING TO BE ON YOUR HANDS!”

• This is a CONTINUATION

• We need to read the Gospels IN THE CONTEXT OF ALL THAT WE HAVE READ BEFORE

• So when we have these difficult passages that look like they are condemning the Jewish people, it is NOT a condemnation from these NEW CHRISTIANS

• It is a CONDEMNATION of a JEWISH PROPHET saying that

• Hopefully that makes sense to you

• Once we understand THE CONTEXT

• When we read The Book of the Acts of the Apostles, the EARLY CHRISTIANS DID NOT SEE themselves as STARTING A NEW RELIGION

• They saw themselves as JEWS and JUDAISM IS NOW FULFILLED

• All the stories of the Old Testament that they had been reading

• All the COVENANT that God had made with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David are FULFILLED NOW IN JESUS

• NONE OF THEM would have thought, “I’m going to say these things about the Jews. That’s THEM. And here is US.”

• NO!!

• They are saying, “THAT IS US!!”

• “WE ARE THE PEOPLE OF THE COVENANT!!”

• “WE ARE THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL!!”

• “AND NOW THE COVENANT IS FULFILLED!!”

• As Jesus said just yesterday in The Last Supper, “This is the Blood of the NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT.”

• THIS IS THE CONTINUATION!!

• Just like there was the first COVENANT with Adam and Eve

• The next COVENANT was with Noah

• The next COVENANT was with Abraham

• It goes on down the line

• FINALLY, HERE IS THE COVENANT THAT JESUS ESTABLISHES IN HIS BLOOD AT THE LAST SUPPER AND THEN CONSUMMATES ON THE CROSS!!

• We should end on The Resurrection

• BUT…

• There is something to reflect on when it comes to Jesus on the Cross in Matthew’s Gospel

• Jesus does say these words clearly, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”

• “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”

• THIS IS PROFOUND!!

• There are MANY elements to reflect on

• But one of them is that Jesus, who was NOT abandoned by his Father

• The Father NEVER TURNED HIS FACE AWAY FROM JESUS

• THE FATHER WAS UNITED WITH HIS SON IN THAT SELF-OFFERING

• AND YET…

• JESUS WAS ALLOWED TO FEEL THE ABANDONMENT THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US HAS FELT 🤯🤯🤯

• JESUS WAS ALLOWED TO FEEL THAT ISOLATION THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US HAS FELT 🤯🤯🤯

• JESUS WAS ALLOWED TO FEEL FORSAKEN EVEN THOUGH HE KNEW HE WASN’T FORSAKEN 🤯🤯🤯

• Just like you and I can know that THE FATHER HAS NOT FORSAKEN ME…

• BUT…

• IT FEELS THAT WAY

• That Jesus entered into that in a way that is IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO FATHOM

• When you and I have felt FORSAKEN

• When you and I have felt ABANDONED

• When you and I have felt ALONE

• JESUS ALLOWED THAT FEELING TO OVERWHELM HIM ON THE CROSS 🤯🤯🤯

• THERE IS NO EXPERIENCE, NO MATTER HOW DARK, THAT JESUS DID NOT ALLOW TO TOUCH HIS LIFE!!

• THIS IS ONE OF THEM!!

• At the same time, we also know that Jesus is quoting Psalm 22!! (Do you remember when we read Psalm 22? Go back and read Day 161: The Crucifixion of Christ in The Bible in a Year Study Guide to see the prophetic imagery in this beautiful Psalm 😁)

• Psalm 22 is this INCREDIBLE PRAYER OF DESPERATION

• THIS INCREDIBLE PRAYER OF FEELING ABANDONED

• BUT…

• At the end of Psalm 22, there is a WORD OF HOPE

• That WORD OF HOPE is captured in “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”

• THIS IS SO POWERFUL!!

• How can we not give God thanks for him giving himself for us?

• And then, RISING FROM THE DEAD?

• IT IS NOT JUST SACRIFICE!!

• It is NOT the DEPTH TO WHICH JESUS SACRIFICED THAT SAVES US!!

• IT IS THE DEPTH OF HIS LOVE FOR US THAT SAVES US!!

• That LOVE that not only drew him down from heaven through the INCARNATION

• That LOVE that not only moved him through life to experience POVERTY AND PAIN, FRIENDSHIP AND ABANDONMENT, AND BETRAYAL

• That LOVE that moved him to ENTER INTO HIS PASSION, DEATH, AND CRUCIFIXION

• BUT…

• ALSO THE LOVE THAT RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD!!

• ALSO THE LOVE THAT BROUGHT HIM TO ASCEND TO HEAVEN!!

• ALSO THE LOVE WITH WHICH HE SENDS....US...FORTH!!

• THIS GREAT COMMISION...

• Where Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”

• THIS GREAT COMMISION JESUS SAYS TO YOU NOW!!

• GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES!!

• Sometimes we can’t go to the ends of the earth

• The disciples we make can be the naked children in your home that you clothe

• The disciples we make can be the hungry children in your home that need to be fed

• The disciples we make can be the nieces and nephews we have that need to be comforted

• The disciples we make can be the people around you that need to be comforted

• THOSE ALSO MAY BE THE PLACES WHERE YOU AND I ARE CALLED TO MAKE DISCIPLES

• MAYBE NOT FAR OFF REGIONS

• BUT MAYBE THERE AS WELL

• BUT FOR SURE…

• Jesus says, “GO MAKE DISCIPLES IN YOUR FAMILY. MAKE DISCIPLES OF YOUR FRIENDS. MAKE DISCIPLES IN THE PEOPLE NEAR YOU. AND YOU ARE NOT ALONE. BEHOLD, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS TO THE CLOSE OF THE AGE.”

• My friends, THE AGE IS NOT YET CLOSED

• And therefore, WE KNOW THAT HE IS WITH US

• SIGH!!

• FR. MIKE IS PRAYING FOR YOU

• PRAY FOR FR. MIKE

• PRAY FOR EACH OTHER

Prayer by Fr. Mike: “Father in Heaven we give you praise this day. This day that we just hear not only of the great Passion of your Son, the great Sacrifice that he offered himself once and for all. But also of the great power of the Resurrection. We realize that the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, you have placed in us in our Baptism, Lord God. The same Spirit of Power that has lifted up Christ out of the grave, you have given to us. So we give you glory. Not only for the Passion, the Death, and the Resurrection of the only beloved Son of God, the only begotten Son of God that was given for us through your glory, Father. But also, thank you for extending that same Spirit to us. Help us to everyday do what Jesus commanded his disciples: to go and tell all the nations. Make disciples everywhere we go. To help people come to  know your great love, your great power, your great goodness, and your great plan for their lives. Lord God, thank you for this Messianic Checkpoint. Thank you for the Gospel of Matthew. Thank you for Matthew himself, and for all that you have done in his life and all that you do and continue to do in our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”