A HITCHCOCK SUSPENSE, TENSION AND FEAR.

Alfred Hitchcock is the Director. Lighting is kept to a minimum, complete silence reigns all over the place, not even a whisper, except for the heavy breathing, but much tension and fear. The doors are heavily and securely barred; a self-imposed, house imprisonment. Every now and then one of the men in the room puts his ear close to the door to catch the sound of someone going up the steps. You can easily know what that man is listening to, from the increase of his heavy breathing and from drops of sweat coming down his face.
In a split second, the eleven men, in that room counted themselves twelve. As a matter of fact they did not have the time to realise that they had a new-comer. They felt and saw a new person in their midst.

 He greeted them with a smile, as He was his custom, and gave them the normal, everyday eastern greeting:
“SHALOM”. ‘The calm after the storm’ is not sufficient enough to explain the change that came over them.
It was like waiting to be called for the execution of the death sentence, but then, something so sudden happened, and you are granted a pardon … and liberty. That is how the terrified apostles felt, locked up in the Caenaculum, the Upper Room when their Master, the Risen Christ appeared in their midst. And that is the change we feel when we experience Jesus.

“SHALOM” was the greeting word, but unfortunately the English translation of “PEACE” does not justify the true meaning. It is more like saying: “May God grant you every good thing.” The Apostles knew the real, the authentic meaning of the greeting and that is what changed their mood. Besides, such a greeting was coming from the lips of the once dead and crucified Master. It made all the difference.
Jesus showed them His pierced hands and side, to give full proof of who He was, and they rejoiced.

Curiously enough, according to John’s version of the Gospel, the Apostles’ mood; tension, fear and apprehension seemed to have changed and vanished completely, in a split second. There was no interim period for calming down for arguing or recollecting, because the Gospel tells us that the Risen Christ gave them their ‘commission’ right away. But the Gospel did record that Christ ‘breathed on them’. That is why the change was so instantaneous, so sudden. That is how the Holy Spirit works in us all. You will agree to this fact, only after experiencing the effect of the Holy Spirit in you.

This commission means that Jesus needs the ‘Church’, which St.Paul calls ‘the Body of Christ’. The work, the mission launched by Christ Himself needs the Church; us, to be His mouth, His legs, His hands, to teach, speak and work. But the Church needs Jesus, she needs the power and the authority which come only from, and through Him. The Church depends on Jesus for enlightenment.

Two last important requirements about the Church are ‘obedience and love’. As Jesus had perfect obedience and perfect love towards His Father to be the faithful messenger of God. So it is with the Church. It has to be perfectly obedient and have perfect love towards Jesus as His messenger. The Church can never follow man-made policies, plans or programmes. The Church can not, and not, may not, solve problems depending only on her wisdom and knowledge without referring to the help and solution of the Holy Spirit. That is why Jesus ‘breathed’ upon His Apostles.

This ‘breathing’ is a flashback to the creation of man, when God, after forming man from the dust of the earth, “He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and became a living being”. (Gen. 2:7). THAT breath is still in you, in me in all of us living, and one day it has to return to its original donor. Are we conscious of this gift? Are we doing our utmost that it will go back to its Donor, and we shall be rewarded for appreciating God’s gift.

A TALE OF TWO CAVES

A cold cave, under the earth, provided shelter for the birth of a babe. This baby grew up, passed through the normal process of childhood and manhood. His revolutionary teachings shook the whole world. The effect of his words caused an earthquake in the way of thinking and behaving. The replica of this earthquake is still being felt, even nowadays, a rumbling is heard.

A cold cave, under the earth, provided repose for the tortured corpse of this revolutionist. On the third day, following his death, the cave, the tomb was found to be empty. There is written witness to this event; not only of his followers, but also of his enemies.

In the first cave, that sheltered his birth, he was still helpless, as all babies are. He needed to be fed, to be changed, he cried when hungry or thirsty, or when he felt discomfort. He was nurtured and grew up to childhood, surrounded with love that only parents can give. He depended on his mum to learn how to walk, to utter the first word and learn how to read his first word. He needed help.

During adulthood he worked and prayed, because he had a mission to accomplish. At the end of the day, he used to get tired. He needed sleep, just like we, in fact he once slept on a fishing boat in the middle of a sea storm. When hungry, he used to eat, just like his twelve friends. He was accused for doing what was right, on a Sabbath; because he had healed. He was molested, accused of being a drunkard. Very often his silence was his answer.

Not so in the second cave. The second cave was destined to be a witness of His greatness, His power. An earthquake announced the arrival of an angel who rolled the stone away. Certainly enough, in the second cave He did not need the help of any man. He is now, the supreme, High Priest, who did not enter the ‘tent’ built by men. The sacrifice He offered, and the blood He shed was not that of a sacrificial animal. It was His own blood.

The ‘first cave chapter’ had been closed. He now gives abundant proof of His glory and power. He did rebuild the destroyed Temple in three days, all single-handed. Before He left the burial cave, He made it a point to leave ample proof behind Him. He left the shroud with marks of His beatings, the wounds and lacerations all over His body. And He left the kerchief which covered His face.

Coming to think of it, the cave was sealed by the Roman soldiers, a mill-stone was rolled to block the opening, lest the dead man should wake up, walk away, or call for help! The stone itself had the official Roman seal, and it was a crime to break such seal. It was on constant watch by three guards, lest the dead man would try to escape. Nothing can stop God from His Plans. The resurrected Christ did leave more proof to show His power and glory, He left the image of His face and the marks of His whole tortured body on the linen that enshrouded Him. He defied all laws of science, known and unknown.

Humanity still enjoys, to this very day, the effect, the result of ‘the empty tomb.’ No Caiphas, no hush-money, no invented stories about the Apostles stealing the body, no bribes can ever lessen the effect of ‘the empty tomb’. It might have served the immediate purpose, presumably, of sparing the soldiers' lives for the time being.

A Tale of Two Caves … Betlehem Cave gave proof of his helplessness, as every human feels. In the Arimathea Cave He showed His power, His majesty, His divinity, His glory. He injected courage to all His followers, and the earthquake keeps on rumbling to this very day. His power, His influence was felt throughout all the ages. The Herods, Nero, the Caesars, Attila the Hun, Alexander the Great, Communism … you name them. “How the mighty have fallen”.

What’s left of them, today? Only a mention in History. But we can’t say the same with the ‘Caveman of Betlehem’. Francis of Assisi, Augustine, Benedict, Dominic, these are just a drop in the ocean, and their thousands of followers. These all vouch for the Man of the ‘Tale of Two Caves’. Thank God the rumbling is still going on, and keeps going on till the end of time. And ‘Thank God’ I can still hear the rumbling.
Do you? Thank God for it.

IMAGINE

‘Imagine’, recalls one of John Lennon’s popular songs. One may not necessarily agree with all the ideas suggested in the lyrics of this song. But, dreaming and imagining are the artist’s two important tools to produce a work of art. Asking ‘what if?’ such and such a thing did not happen, or it took a different trend or way, the decision taken, might ultimately lead, to heaven … or to hell.

Why ‘heaven and hell’?  Let us suppose, let us imagine that in the Gospel narrative we had to find a particular chapter, which does NOT actually exist, about Judas Iscariot. What, if we suppose, that after Judas gave the kiss of betrayal to Jesus, as a sign to the soldiers, something extraordinary happened. And rember, this, is not recorded in the Gospel, simply, because it did not happen.

But, let’s imagine that, there and then, Judas realized what he had done; that he had committed a heinous crime, by selling the Messiah, his friend, the Master who had trusted him, even with the ‘cash box’. And let us imagine that Judas opened his eyes and heart. He compares his actions to the gentleness, compassion, kindness and love which his Master had always shown towards him. He realizes that Jesus had always trusted him and now, he had the senseless courage to betray Him.

Just imagine Judas throwing himself down in front of his Master, crying, he embraces and kisses the master’s feet. Then in a sobbing, hoarse voice cries out: “Lord, forgive me I have offended Thee, forgive me, forgive me, I have betrayed you. Please Lord, have mercy on me.”

Suspense is created, everyone holds his breath, just like the knocking at the gate in Macbeth. How will Christ react? Will He reproach Judas? Will the Christ ignore him? All eyes are fixed on Jesus and Judas at His feet. You could hear a pin fall in the moonlit Garden of Gethsemani. But the climax is finally reached.

Imagine Jesus bowing down, takes hold of Judas shoulders, and with great love and gentleness, like holding a baby, helps him stand up to face Him.

Then Jesus embraces Judas and, reciprocates Judas’ kiss. But Christ’s kiss was a kiss of love. Yet, this did not happen, and THIS IS THE TRAGEDY. Not because it is not recorded in the Gospel, but because it did not happen. We are just imagining, what if things had developed that way? We might have had by now a St.Judas Iscariot. But we are just imagining.

In the poem we used to study as children I recall the opening words of ‘The Sea’. They run like this:                                                                                                                                   “Splashing, dashing ,restless sea, Never still you seem to be “.                                   And that is how the grace of God works, it never ‘seems’ to be still, it IS never still. Like the ocean waves always on the move, washing anything on the beach; sand, rocks, pebbles. It revives and makes everything clean and fresh.

Who knows how many times Judas fought against the incoming tide of God’s grace, even when he was seated close to his Master during the ‘Last Supper’ when he was given the ‘sop’.  The ‘sop’ was a morsel dipped in the sauce of herbs and given by the host to a favourite person at the table, a sort of compliment. That must have been, not simply a wave, but a tidal wave, a tsunami … but unfortunately Judas never co-operated, he stood firm.

His mind was set. He must have already felt an outsider, even though he was amongst friends, during that last supper. He must have been so tense, very nervous and agitated, his thoughts must have been simply on the mission he had to accomplish; the betrayal of Jesus.

No wonder St.John tells us that Judas hurried out of the Upper Room and was swallowed up by the darkness of the night. But, it’s no use imagining, wishing things were different. No, facts are facts, it’s no use stretching your imagination. God’s mercy, love and forgiveness keep coming up like the ocean waves, lapping on the beach, till the end of times, but we have to accept them and wash ourselves clean.

GOD SAVE THE KING ----- TAKING THE PLUNGE

Planning beforehand, is the key to success. It could be a family dinner, a reunion, a Parish celebration or whatever, one has to sit down, think, consider what is needed, putting priorities in order, choosing helpers who can and may contribute, and you will be on your way to a successful occasion.

I believe that Jesus did consider all these facts before asking two of His friends to: “Go into the town which is over against you, at your entering you will find a colt of an ass tied, which no man has ever sat upon; loose him and bring him here. If any man shall ask you: ‘Why do you loosen the colt? You will answer, ‘because the Lord needs it.’ “

The two disciples went and found just what their Master had said. They told the owner: ‘Because the Lord needs it.’ So that was the ‘password’ which the owner of the colt and Jesus had agreed upon. Yes, this was not a sudden, impulsive action on the side of Jesus, He must have carefully planned it beforehand, He made the arrangements together with the owner of the colt.

Why did Jesus need the colt? Certainly to ride on it, and make the official and triumphant entry into Jerusalem. But why a colt of an ass, and not a horse? Riding a horse, Jesus’ entry would have looked more ‘majestic and formal’, it would have suited Him, the Rabbi of great personality who had thousands of followers. That could be true by western thought.

According to the mentality, the culture of Palestine, and the surrounding countries, the donkey was not considered as a lowly beast, as we in the West consider it. May I remind you of our student days, you might have studied or read the poem called ‘The Donkey’ by G.K.Chesterton. I shall quote it, for those who never read it, to convince you of the ‘social’ standing of the donkey in the ‘animal kingdom’

“When fishes flew and forests walked,    and figs grew upon thorn,   some moment when the moon was blood,   then surely I was born.   With monstrous head and sickening cry,  and ears like errant wings,   the devil’s walking parody,   on all four-footed things. The tattered outlaw of the earth, of ancient crooked will.   Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,   I keep my secret still. Fools! For I also had my hour; one far fierce hour and sweet:   There was a shout about my ears,

   And palms before my feet. “

So much for Chesterton, a real work of art. But coming back to the use of the donkey, the people in those countries were used to seeing their kings entering upon the donkey, and that meant, that the king was officially making his entry in ‘peace’. It follows that the people welcomed their Rabbi riding on a donkey, as the king of peace and love, and not the conquering military hero, who most had expected the promised Messiah.

Another point to consider in this Gospel Text, is the fact that Christ’s decision to enter Jerusalem on a donkey shows how brave, how courageous Christ must have been. The reason is evident; there was a price on His head, the Pharisees had been plotting to arrest Him, they were just waiting for the right moment. And He knew it, and that shows sheer courage. He could have entered Jerusalem from a back door, but only cowards do that, only spineless people do that under the mantle of a black night. No, Jesus, Jesus accepted the Father’s Plan, and with courage embraced His cross. That is why He took the plunge.

When Saint Francis, the patron saint of animals, encountered a donkey who was unhappy with his lot in life, Francis tells him a story that healed. True, long ago God punished the mischievous animal by giving him long ears, a loud bray, and heavy burdens to bear. Yet God gave the donkey something wonderful, too. For who was it that carried Mary to Bethlehem across rugged mountains and burning desert sand? And in the stable, who warmed the Baby Jesus with his breath? Whose love and devotion on the trip from Nazareth outshone even the gifts of the wise men? A story that addresses the inherent good in all of us, each spread of this tour de force is a feast for the eye and for the soul.

LOVE (GENUINE) MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND

There she is, a mound of rubbish, a refuse, sprawled on the floor, with dishevelled hair, dirty and smelly clothes, good for nothing, worthless, fit to be thrown into a dung. That is one way of looking at ‘it’, the Pharisaic way; merciless, fit to be burned in hell. Christ looked at ‘her’ differently. He saw a woman who has been accused of adultery, but she is still His daughter, who, for the time being, has lost her dignity. Yet she is to be pitied, forgiven and helped to get up and start on her new way.

Thank God that Jesus is not a Pharisee; who would have been saved? Then follows ‘the calm after the storm’. After a thunder storm with strong winds and pouring rain, the dark clouds move on and we can see streaks of light shining through the last grey clouds. Thank God it’s over. There is stillness in the air. Calm and peace seem to reign everywhere.

That is how the accused adulteress felt when Jesus broke the fearful silence around her, and spoke to her in a gentle, loving voice: “Woman, where are they?” I suppose the woman was squeezing her eyes shut not to see her accusers, and whom she probably knew!! Who knows, they might have been her regular customers!
Her first reaction on hearing that gentle voice addressing her, was that of a great surprise. She was not accustomed to be spoken with such gentleness and ‘love’. For as the Italians say, ‘Il tono fa la musica’. That is, the way you speak shows what character you are, what you treasure in your heart. And Christ had only genuine love and mercy towards His daughter. Yes, the ‘voice’ had spoken. But then followed another surprise for the woman, the realisation that she was all alone, that her accusers had vanished into thin air.

What a Master Psychologist Jesus was, mind you, He still is. HE buildt up a climax, by asking another question: “Has no one condemned you?”. This was evident, but He wanted to drive in the fact by letting the woman declare what was a fact. Then His conclusion followed: “Neither do I condemn you.” He did put a condition: “Go, sin no more.”

As we all realise Christ did not make a fuss over it, and His way of treating with us, sinners, as He did with the woman, is to create a relationship. That is the best way how to get to the sinner’s heart; by being friendly, gentle, prudent and most of all to respect his dignity.

The whole history of the people of Israel is symbolised in the story of the woman who became a ‘harlot’, in the Book of Ezechiel. She was poor and God took her up, covered her and clothred her, cleaned her, gave her life and gave her beauty. BUT, she turned away from Him and used her beauty and all other gifts to attract men. So it is with us.

What a tragedy when we turn away from the Lover, and use His own gifts for our own power and glory. WE all become adulterers, we lack to show our appreciation towards Him, from whom we all depend. Selfishness, egoism, wealth, power and lust seem to be the main ingredients for ‘many’ in drawing up their Magna Carta.

DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE

Let’s go back to our schooldays when studying Shakespeare. We do recall that famous speech by Portia, in ‘The Merchant of Venice’ when begging Shylock for mercy. These are excerpts from that famous speech:
“The quality of mercy is not strain'd, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; it blesseth him that gives and him that takes. It is an attribute of God himself. “

Though there are doubts about Shakespeare’s religious views, yet we have here proof of Catholic sympathies and beliefs. Christ presented ‘mercy’ in the well-known parable of the ‘Merciful Father’ formerly known as ’The Prodigal Son’, in a deeper sense. St. John Paul II, once said that this parable has the ‘interior form of the love that in the New Testament is called “agape”. This type of love and mercy reaches down to every type of human misery, and every form of moral misery, to sin.

When this happens the person who receives ‘mercy’ does not feel humiliated, but rather he would be found again and ‘restored to his original value’. As you recall the ‘father’ is overjoyed at his son’s return, his son’s re-birth. That means that the father never, during his son’s absence, changed, altered his love towards him. The father’s love remained firm, or even grew deeper. Maybe deep down he felt that the son would ultimately come back. For this reason the flame of love kept up its ardour. It never diminished.

The father, irrespective of his son’s behaviour, remains his father. Likewise the son, irrespective of his misdeeds, he remains the ‘father’s son’, because the ‘truth’ is in himself. The son was undergoing a transformation, which caused him pain, disappointments, solitude, misery, all this until ‘he found himself’ again, until he came to ‘terms with himself’. The value of this parable cannot be judged from the ‘outside’, as things or actions seemed to indicate. There must have been a silent dialogue of the hearts, a distant dialogue between the father’s heart and his son’s heart.

Goodness and dignity have been shelved for a moment, by the son, until he realized the futility of living without them. Yes, he travelled to a far away country. This might even mean three, four miles away, not necessarily hundreds or thousands of miles away, but it means that he was ‘lost’ to himself. Whenever we sin, we will be living in a ‘far away country’, until we start searching for our ‘true’ selves, our true identity. Then we realise our mistakes, and decide to get up, and go back to the Father.

Do we realise how sweet conversion is? Do we realise how gracious God the Father is with the lost sheep? Do we realise that being a Dr. Jekyll we have to face horrible consequences when we let our dark side run wild with a potion that changes us into the animalistic Mr. Hyde? In our case the ‘potion’ is temptation of sin which takes various forms: power, wealth, sex, greed, pride, avarice and a host of other potions. If we realise through God’s grace, we start hating ourselves, or rather, our sins, our old life.

No wonder the father gives us back the ‘ring’ a sign of trust, the ‘robe’ as a sign of honour, the sandals as a sign that we are not slaves, and to top it all organises a feast with the fattened calf and music. I believe that the father of the parable, never slept during the nights, as long as his son was away. He must have felt that his son would come back at any time.

The Flemish Master, Rembrandt, painted the scene and portrayed the father as almost blind, from the constant watching out and crying. BUT this is a very important point, a father does not need the physical eyes to see his son, to forgive his son, to love his son. The heart does all the work; a silent dialogue must have been going on. The same it is with us and God the Father, who has no eyes, ergo no choices, no preferences, He is always in search of love.