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The gospel tells us a beautiful story of mercy (compassion, kindness, gentleness), of how Joseph de Arimathea, a pious and devoted man of the Lord Jesus, was moved by the death of his teacher, and once he died, ordered everything for his burial. At a time when the disciples of Jesus had been dispersed and hidden by persecution, Joseph de Arimathea was not afraid, and like Tobit in the old testament who buried his brothers murdered in Nineveh, gave Jesus a dignified burial, so it is recounted in the Gospel of Saint Matthew:
"As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away" Matthew 27:57-60.
The narrations about this character in the gospels are very brief, and the evangelist Luke even mentioned that he was a member of the council, an important position at the time. John instead tells us that Joseph of Arimathea was a secret disciple of his teacher Jesus.
The Bible with these stories seeks to show us the backlight, Nicodemus who sought instruction, and Joseph de Arimathea give us an example of what it means to seek beatitude with the heart, that beatitude that Jesus preached, open our hearts and make it available to others:"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 7:12.
But the Bible also shows us the opposite, to Pontius Pilate who only sought to sustain himself in power and not to do justice, and to Judas Iscariot who sold his teacher for a few coins.
The Kingdom of Heaven shows us the eternal opposition between good and evil
To be similar to God, that is the goal of spirituality, to be wise as God is wise, or in other words: "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" Matthew 5:48, "Be holy, because I am holy" 1 Peter 1:16. But how to achieve this similarity?
This only happens when we are able to see the world with the eyes of God, expressed in another way, when we are able to understand the word of God with a pure and renewed heart. But to achieve this, a progressive and illuminating asceticism is required, a purifying process of the soul. And this is what the awakening of intelligence is about.
In spirituality, everything begins with the desire to learn, wisdom invites us to live with her; and this is how the master of wisdom Ben Sira explained this spiritual truth:
"If you wish, my son, you can be wise;
if you apply yourself, you can be shrewd.
If you are willing to listen, you can learn;
if you pay attention, you can be instructed." Ben Sira 6:32-33.
What the master of wisdom Ben Sira is teaching us is that the fear of God is the beginning of the path towards Gnosis, that is to say, the interior transformation of the soul towards spiritual illumination. The fear of God is constancy, firmness, devotion, equanimity, and stability.
And to live in the fear of God we need the right company of people:
"Stand in the company of the elders;
stay close to whoever is wise.
Be eager to hear every discourse;
let no insightful saying escape you.
If you see the intelligent, see them out;
let your feet wear away their doorsteps!" Ben Sira 6:34-36.
But in addition to this we need the interior reflection that comes from the meditation of the heart, the law of God when it is present in men blesses us and makes us grow:
"Reflect on the law of the Most High,
and let his commandments be your constant study.
Then he will enlighten your mind,
and make you wise as you desire" Ben Sira 6:37.
Those who take all these tips into account and put them into practice, not only receive as a reward the gift of wisdom that makes us similar to God and enlightens us, but also immortality and eternal life.
Alexander the Great with his army had conquered the gigantic Persian empire, and after his death in Babylon the empire was divided between his generals, which brought about a long period of warfare in the Middle East until the arrival of the Roman empire.
Alexander's successors, of Greek origin, were not characterized by religious toleration like the Persian Achaemenid dynasty, and tried to impose hellenism on their kingdoms; in some countries, hellenism merged peacefully, but not in others.
The history of the Maccabean dynasty in the Middle East was the fight against the oppression of the tyrants who succeeded Alexander. Thus began religious oppression and the consequent revolution in the Judean region: "Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people, and abandon their particular customs" 1 Maccabees 1:41.
The revolt against the Seleucid dynasty began with the priest Mattathias, and then this priest was followed by his sons, who gave rise to the Maccabean dynasty.
The first book of the Maccabees leaves us especially, the spiritual testament that the priest Mattathias left to his children before died, so that they would be blessed by the wise Lord and succeed in their actions, this testament is an example of spiritual determination in the face of oppression and injustice, and a reminder that the Law of Moses should not be forgotten, the priest Mattathias especially taught that only God should be feared and not powerful men, the decisions of men are temporary but the decisions of God are eternal:
"And so, consider this from generation to generation,
that none who hope in Heaven shall fail in strength.
Do not fear the words of sinners,
for their glory ends in corruption and worms.
Today exalted, tomorrow not to be found,
they have returned to dust,
their schemes have perished.
Children! be courageous and strong in keeping the law,
for by it you shall be honored" 1 Maccabees 2:61-64.
Events
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Friday, 11 July 2014 17:08
New book retired from Editorial
The latest version of the tractate in spanish retired from Editorial Dunken on July 11, 2014
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Friday, 11 July 2014 17:29
The new book in Editorial Dunken
You can buy the lastest version of the tractate more complete than the free version in the web in Editorial Dunken, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Tuesday, 15 July 2014 11:05
Interview in Radio Fm Signs 92.5
My interview in the program of Estela, the Pandora`s Box, on Fm Signs. Tuesday 10 to 11 a.m. in 92.5 Fm. Link to the radio: http://www.fmsignos.com.ar/index.html
