Hold your heads high
A Gospel Enquiry
Introduction
In their book Siblings All, Sign of the Times: The Social Teaching of Pope Francis (2022), authors Cardinal Michael Czerny and Fr Christian Barone propose an interpretation of Vatican II as “a historic-salvific reading of contemporary events (which) … takes as its sole reference the centre of faith (centrum fidei), the message of Jesus.” His life, his message and his mission form the focus of the Gospel Enquiry, which can then assist those who engage in the Enquiry to investigate contemporary events in the light of the Gospel. You might like to use this Gospel Enquiry to test these ideas … and to further the mission Jesus gave to his followers.
The Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples, “When you see armies all around Jerusalem, you will know it will soon be destroyed. At that time, the people in Judea should run away to the mountains. The people in Jerusalem must get out, and those who are near the city should not go in. These are the days of punishment to bring about all that is written in the Scriptures. How terrible it will be for women who are pregnant or have nursing babies! Great trouble will come upon this land, and God will be angry with these people. They will be killed by the sword and taken as prisoners to all nations. Jerusalem will be crushed by non-Jewish people until their time is over.
“There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On earth, nations will be afraid and confused because of the roar and fury of the sea. People will be so afraid they will faint, wondering what is happening to the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to happen, look up and hold your heads high, because the time when God will free you is near!” (Luke 21:20-28 - New Century Version)
The Enquiry
See
What are the elements of this Gospel passage? Where do you place yourself in the scene he describes? Is Jesus speaking about events that transcend time and place and culture? What do we learn about Jesus from this passage?
Why does Jesus speak about “the days of punishment”? What is happening that will lead to the destruction of Jerusalem by “non-Jewish people”?
What does Jesus tell his followers to do? What does he mean by this? What will freedom “look like, sound like, feel like” for his followers when “the days of punishment” come?
Judge
What do you think about this warning that Jesus gives to his followers and to us? Is there evidence in Australian society today of this Gospel event happening? What is happening that tells you that many Australians do not “hold their heads high”?
What insights have you gained into who Jesus is and his mission from reading and reflecting on this message to his disciples? What have you learned from him about the relationship between God and the world that God has created and the gift given to us of being co-creators with God?
What would life be like if everyone followed Jesus’ teachings and had cause to “hold their heads high”?
Act
What needs to change in Australian society so that the freedom Jesus speaks about becomes the reality?
What small action can you commit to that will help to bring about this change in our society?
Who can you involve in your action and how and when will you get them to participate in your action?
Author: Pat Branson
Image source: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/giveusthisday/luke-2120-38-look-jesus/