May 2, 2025
Feast of Saint Athanasius of Alexandria
My sisters and brothers in the Lord,
Welcome to week eighteen of BMW, Be My Witnesses. The very heart of our faith as Christians is the death on the cross and the Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. To be effective witnesses these mysteries of our faith must be at the heart of all we think, say, and do.
Learn: The Cross and the Resurrection
To the travelers on the way to Emmaus who were lamenting the death of Jesus, the Lord himself said, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26).
This is clearly something we all have to learn. Even though much of this cannot be proven and thus must be taken on faith, still the cross and the resurrection can be knowledge that we must take in and make our own.
The great irony is that we are not sure to what prophets Jesus was referring who claimed that the Messiah would have to suffer. The closest that the early Church came to was a reflection on the four suffering servant songs found in the Prophet Isaiah.
The first song is found in chapter 42 (verses 1-4) where we are told that this servant will gently bring forth justice for the nations especially by his teaching. The second song, in chapter 49 (verses 1-7), again speaks of from the moment of his time in the womb as a messenger not only to Israel but eventually to all the nations. This is all because God has chosen him for this mission.
Then the texts become more difficult. The third song, chapter 50 (verses 4-11), continue to pick up on the theme of the messenger, but now there is opposition to his words. Still, with God on his side, he will triumph. The fourth and final song, (52:13-53:12), is the longest and most clearly describes the sufferings that this servant will endure. But that is not all. For those very sufferings are for our sins allowing us to be healed and “the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all.” He was like a lamb led to the slaughter even though he had done nothing wrong. This all was a reparation for us. He shall see the light.
These prophecies, 500 years before the time of Christ, certainly were claimed by the early Church as predictors of the kind of suffering Messiah that Jesus had been. Thus, the Cross, which in any other circumstance would have been an incredible scandal, has become for Christians not only a symbol but an actual way of life as we imitate our savior.
The Challenge:
This leads to this week’s challenge. Sit before a Crucifix and read these four suffering servant songs. Let Jesus walk with you as you do so and have him explain to you how this was all necessary for our salvation and that of the whole world.
Until next week, may God Bless you.
I am yours sincerely in Christ,
+ Earl Boyea
Bishop of Lansing
P.S. Below is a video version of this week's Be My Witnesses. Please do share with family and friends. Thank you. God bless you.