Friday March 27, 2009 of the 4th weel in Lent

FRIDAY MARCH 27, 2009 of the fourth Week in Lent

Readings: Wisdom 2:1a;12-22 Psalm 34 John 7: 1-2,10,25-30
Psalm Response ”The Lord is close to the broken hearted “

Scholars tell us the Books known as Wisdom Literature were written down during the Greek occupation of Jerusalem. When rabbinical Judaism confirmed the text and canon of their Scriptures, they set certain criteria for a book to be considered and included in their official list of a book to be included in their Bible.
Books selected had to have been originally composed in Hebrew, were ancient and accepted as having been composed in Jerusalem.
When they met, after the Romans destroyed the Temple for the final time, the only copies of the Wisdom literature available were written in Greek. So, the assembly mistakenly discounted their authenticity. At the time, they were unaware Ezekiel was written in Babylon while the Jews were in exile, as were portions of Daniel and Esther.
The legend, at the time, was Ezekiel was transported to Jerusalem by an anget to compose his prophecy and then returned to Babylon.
If you believe that that yarn, I’ve got some swampland I can let you have for a song.
Christ, through His evangelists and Paul, quote from these books, and by reference authenticate their relevance.
The Catholic Bishops of North Africa affirmed their credibility as Scripture in 321AD; they reaffirmed the same canon at Carthage in 325AD.
It is amazing how closely the writings foretell the events which will take place about 200years from the writing down.
Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecy!

The Psalm also acts as a foretelling of future events. Do we suppose these are simply coincidences? The evidence of the forthcoming experience is almost the “smoking gun”, the true writer is the Holy Spirit, couldn’t help Himself in guiding the writers.

In preparation for His divine revelation, Jesus hesitated going to Jerusalem with His family and neighbors so as not to draw attention to Himself before the time set by His Father for His salvific action.
Later, when He appeared at the celebration, the people wondered why He would jeopardize Himself, not to His ultimate acts of salvation but the religious leaders seemed anxious to kill Him and might before His time.
Jesus emphasizes His Father’s will is the prime mover in His life and death, not the whim of those ignorant of Him or His mission.
God knows our birth and death dates. We are His and His decisions are carved in stone. So, Jesus reported, “Don’t worry about what you will eat or drink or what you will put on. The Father knows your needs and will fulfill them as He prescribed before you were conceived!