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Monday Holy Week
The Institute
March 21, 2016
IRONY ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
Irony,
the American Heritage Dict. Of the English Language says, is, “The use of words to convey the opposite of
their literal meaning”
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It’s
irony we hear in John’s Gospel
Ø
And
it’s not rare in ordinary life; we all use it at times
Ø
We
say to friends when tempting them to the triple dark chocolate cheesecake, “Sure, no calories in that”
Ø
Not
only words, but events in John are presented with irony
IRONY IN THE GOSPEL +++++++++++++++++++++++++
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In
today’s reading, Christ has given Lazarus back his life, raised him from the
dead, and his opponents want to end Jesus’ life
Ø
They
want to kill the very one who gives and restores life!
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What
irony!
Ø
His
enemies may not have seen it that way, but John does, and he expects that we,
his readers, too will see what irony there is in their plotting against Christ
Ø
It
says something larger about the perversity of human nature …
Ø
That
we are all capable of doing the opposite of what we claim to believe and
missing the inconsistency entirely
IRONY IN OURSELVES +++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Unfortunately
over the years we let devious patterns of thought dev & shut selves off
from seeing things as they R or accepting anything new
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Prayer
for an open heart & mind, for more of the child’s simplicity and wonder is
always in order
Ø
It
would help us to C that at times R actions & words R so opposed 2 what we
claim 2 hold dear
Ø
If
R actions, words, beliefs, & ideals were all 2B truly united & consistent,
we would avoid the kind of irony present in today’s Gospel reading
CONCLUSION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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We
could leave it for more innocent matters, like the calories in cheesecake!
CONCLUSION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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