Day 67. Jesus’ Temple of Relationships
He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself.
Philippians 3:21
Jesus is the temple not made by human hands. His life makes visible in the flesh the heavenly temple blueprint. We take a closer look now at Jesus’ relationships to discover signs of the principles of intimacy we’ve discussed as revealed in the life of our Lord.
We first note Jesus’ modesty. I am struck by Jesus’ oft-repeated command to those whom he heals: “Tell no one.” How can a man who hasn’t walked in years keep quiet about his sudden ability to run, leap and dance? Why would Jesus attach a gag-clause to demonstrations of his power? (Mt. 9:30; Mk 1:44; 5:43; 7:36, 8:26; Lk 5:14; 8:56). How strange. Aren’t we supposed to bear witness to God’s great works? Doesn’t scripture tell us to “proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations”? (Ps 9:12)
Clearly Jesus preferred to work quietly – to fly “under the radar” – in his public ministry. While there were probably many reasons for this, I believe that an important factor was his uniquely divine sense of modesty. Jesus’ healing power was manifested without any hint of showmanship or hunger for fame.
Another characteristic we observe in Jesus’ relationships is his proactive, missionary style. Jesus took initiative with people. He didn’t wait for them to approach him (though he certainly could have!). This is important because our reflections on intimacy and access may mislead us. We might be tempted to conclude that our model for relationships is fundamentally passive. Since we have said so much about those who approach us, we should not perceive in the temple of relationships a preference for the introverted personality type.
In Jesus we find a man who is always on the move – seeking new towns and cities in which to proclaim the Kingdom (Mark 1:38) coming often to the temple to teach (Luke 20:1, Mark 12:35) and healing without always being asked (Lk 7:13-14). A passion for people animated all our Lord’s interactions and relations. He was intensely interested in others and made their well-being his highest priority – often neglecting even his own legitimate needs! (Mk 6:30-34)
What about intimacy? Did Jesus grant varying levels of access and trust in his relationships? It appears that he did. The proclamation of the Kingdom, for example, was withheld from the Gentiles (Mt. 10:5,6), veiled for the Jews, and explained only to his disciples (Mk 4:10-13, 34). In this we perceive the unwillingness of Jesus to share his secrets – the mysteries of the Kingdom – with the general public.
Jesus himself states that his parables were intended to conceal as well reveal (Mk 4:11-12, Mt. 9:30, Lk 5:14). Insight was granted only through explanation. Those who were closest to Christ, his disciples, received the privileged, necessary instructions that brought the messages behind these stories to light.
Even among Jesus’ followers, there is a hierarchy of intimacy. There are, of course, the Twelve who enjoyed extraordinary access to the Master throughout his years of active ministry. This inner circle was chosen from a much larger field of followers out of which Jesus also appointed the seventy-two who went ahead of the Lord to prepare the towns for his preaching (Lk 10:1ff).
Moving inwards toward the center of Jesus’ relationships, we find that he was in the habit of setting apart three from out of the Twelve. Peter, James and John accompany him on special missions. Only these men witness his moments of greatest glory (Lk 9:28-36) and greatest grief (Mk 14:32-42). From these three, only one is called the disciple whom Jesus loved. He alone rests at the breast of Jesus (Jn 13:23) in the hour of greatest intimacy shared by our Lord with his faithful friends at the table of the Last Supper.
In all of these relationships, regardless of the intimacy and access permitted, Love is the defining characteristic. Close follower or foreign oppressor, rich tax collector or poor widow, honored high priest or blind beggar, Pharisee or prostitute, Jesus loved them all and treated them according to their dignity and his zeal for the Father’s glory.
At the heart of his revolutionary teaching about relationships was this: strangers, according to Jesus, were to be treated with the kindness of kindred, as the parable of the Good Samaritan makes clear (Lk 10:29-37). He called all his followers to imitate the Father’s love that is given freely to all. “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.” (Mt. 5:44, 45)
When it comes to love, there are no outsiders. Even if we must withhold trust from a person who has broken faith, we may not withhold love. All – strangers, enemies, betrayers – are to be treated with kindness, affection and reverence. Those who offend or wound us are to be forgiven. And if we remove them from places of intimacy, access and trust, such removal must always be open to future reconciliation and, hopefully, restoration. The reason is profound: we were once enemies of our Lord. He did not, thanks be to God, treat us as we deserved.
Returning to yesterday’s question, what place did women have in Jesus’ temple of relationships? Were they kept at a distance as in the Jerusalem temple, or did women, like the disciples, have a place close to his heart? Since a rabbi never took initiative with women, it is striking how often Jesus touches women, heals women and engages women in conversation. The extended dialogue with the woman at the well is a most notable example. Here Jesus describes as “the work of the Father” the direct evangelization of a woman who is also a Samaritan and an adulteress (Jn. 4:34-37). If there was ever an outsider, it was she! Still, Jesus speaks to her with a love that moves her to invite her entire village to meet the man who “told me everything I have ever done!” (vs. 39)
The two sisters Mary and Martha have a particularly close friendship with the Lord. They entertain him as a guest in their home (Lk 10:38-42) and when their brother is dying, they call on him with a familiarity that bespeaks closeness and confidence (Jn. 11:1-3, 20-36).
The concluding image for this reflection is one that we will take up again in the final phase of our discernment novena. Following the raising of her brother Lazarus from the dead, Mary is moved to perform a most extraordinary act of love for Jesus. Though we have heard the story on numerous occasions, I believe it will now take on a new meaning (Jn. 12:1-8).
Mary brings an expensive jar of aromatic perfume to a banquet for Jesus and breaks it open on the floor. With her tears and her hair she washes our Lord’s feet, kissing them with great tenderness.
Even the disciples, notably Judas, object to this unseemly and undignified display. They think she is creating a scene; making a spectacle and a fool of herself. Only Jesus’ intervention and defense of her action silences the general uproar.
One line stands out: “the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (vs. 3) When an offering is made to God that is acceptable, it is called a pleasing aroma. It fills the house of God and it prompts the Lord to make a similar response. He, too, fills the house with the cloud that is his divine presence. The glory of the Lord fills the temple. And when the house is full of the Lord, can there be room for anything else? But we’re getting ahead of ourselves here.
Novena Prayer
Jesus says: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Pier Giorgio responds: I beg you to pray for me a little, so that God may give me an iron will that does not bend and does not fail in His projects.
Let us Pray: Blessed Pier Giorgio, lead me in the path of purity, for only those who are clean of heart can behold God’s face. Help me to be faithful to the covenant I have made with God in Baptism, that I may always be loyal to His command and thus offer Him sincere worship. Show me by your life how to be single hearted and completely, unswervingly, dedicated to proclaiming the Kingdom of God here on earth.
Blessed Pier Giorgio, I ask for your intercession in obtaining from God, Who is pure love and holiness, all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare. I confidently turn to you for help in my present need: (for the grace to see others as jewels and not as tools – to serve them and love them with the heart of Christ.)
A Book of Prayers in Honor of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, by Rev. Timothy E. Deeter
Make it My Own
Daily Discernment Workbook
BREAK OPEN YOUR BIBLE
1. What Does it Take to Be Jesus’ Best Friend?
Why would Jesus single out one disciple to be closer to him than all the others? It might help if I consider this question: “What do I love about my best friend? The qualities below are some examples. Look up the passages to the right and connect them, by drawing a line, to the quality it illustrates. In doing this I begin to understand why John, also called ‘the beloved disciple,’ or ‘the one whom Jesus loved,’ held such a special place in the heart of Jesus.
A. Your best friend is angrier than you are when someone disrespects you.
B. Your best friend ‘gets’ you and understands more quickly than others what you’re about.
C. Your best friend is there when your need is greatest and can be trusted with your greatest treasure.
D. Your best friend is the one you want closest to you when you’re not sure whom you can trust.
E. Your best friend stays nearby, but keeps a respectful distance, when you’re with other friends.
1. John 20:1-8
2. John 19:26, 27
3. Luke 9:51-56
4. John 21:20-22
5. John 13:21-26
2. What Does it Take to Be God’s Best Friend?
Who, might we say, was God’s best friend? Arguably it was Moses. Read the following passages and write what qualities are most important to God that set Moses apart from all others.
Exodus 32:31-33 Some excellent qualities of Moses I see in this are…
Exodus 33:11-19 Some excellent qualities of Moses I see in this are…
Exodus 34:29-35 Some excellent qualities of Moses I see in this are…
Numbers 11:26-29 Some excellent qualities of Moses I see in this are…
Numbers 12:1-8 Some excellent qualities of Moses I see in this are…
Deuteronomy 9:15-20 Some excellent qualities of Moses I see in this are…
3. Jesus’ Temple is Very Large
If I’m bothered by the thought that such special friendships mean that God plays favorites, I can find in scripture examples of the way Jesus was available to everybody – especially outsiders. By this we learn that what Jesus values most in friends is their ability to care about others’ needs like he does.
Read Mark 5:35-43 and then compare it with Acts 9:36-41.
How does this help explain why Jesus brought Peter along whenever he performed healings?
Read Mark 3:8-12 and then compare it with Acts 5:14-16.
In the story from Acts, the Church is growing rapidly. How did the apostles know – who taught them – how to minister to such great crowds? Based on this, how would I describe what Jesus’ purpose in drawing some followers closer to himself?
Love in Action
Are we passive in our Temple of Relationships, waiting for others to approach us? Jesus wasn’t. He put love in action. Note in each of the passages below the words that indicate it was Jesus who noticed the needs of others and took the initiative.
Luke 7:11-15 – Jesus’ love went into action when he…
John 4:4-10 – Jesus’ love went into action when he…
John 5:2-9 – Jesus’ love went into action when he…
Luke 19:1-10 – Jesus’ love went into action when he…
Based on the Lord’s example, what changes can I make in my own approach to people I don’t know?
Conclude with
“Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be.
World without end, Amen.”
Answer Key # 1: A3; B1; C2; D5; E4