At a Distance...

Dear Friends,

A number of times in the Gospel, the phrase “at a distance” is used to describe where people stood in relationship to Jesus during His public ministry - the Gerasene demonic who lived in the cave, for example, and the ten lepers who had illnesses which also created a social stigma for them. The people whom Jesus fed on the mount came from a great distance. Jesus saw the barren fig tree at a distance. The prodigal father stood on a hilltop each day and watched hopefully for his son to appear in the distance.

But Jesus never chose to be distant from anyone who needed His love and mercy.

After Jesus was led away from the Garden of Gethsemane by the soldiers and guards sent by the high priest, Peter followed “at a distance.” Three times Peter denied knowing Jesus, but Jesus was close enough to turn and look upon Peter with love, compassion and understanding. Jesus had a way of doing away with distances.

Jesus was not distant from Peter who needed His love and mercy.

Mark, Matthew and Luke describing the scene of the crucifixion, said that the women who had followed and supported Jesus stood off at a distance. (Mt. 27.55, Mk. 15.40, Lk. 23.49) Not crumpled. They stood in silent awe of the Holy One.

John has a different take. He describes three women standing at the foot of the cross: Mary, Jesus’ mother, Mary of Cleophas, his mother’s sister and Mary Magdalen. Again standing. But not at a distance. At the foot of the cross. It would be hard to get any closer.

None of the evangelists describe any of Jesus’ male disciples as being at the scene of the crucifixion.

Passiontide is coming in two weeks. Where will you be? Where will I be? Will we be off at a distance, lacking any interest in coming closer? Will we stand apart because we don’t know that we can come any closer? Will we crumple? Or will we stand in awe at what God has done for us?

On the cross, Jesus was not distant from anyone who needed His love and mercy? Remember Dismas, the good thief? He was closest of all.

How will we turn toward Holy Week? From a distance or closer each day? Will we be at the Good Friday Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion? If we can’t, can we at least linger over the Passion narrative in the Gospel of John?

~ Sister Joan Sobala