Friday, March 16, 2018

March 16 - 4th Sunday of Lent - Thursday


­­+ Our readings today explain a lot about the reason that people were “out to get” Jesus -  and actually to plot to kill him. It is prophesied in the Book of Wisdom: “let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself up against our doings, ‘he yells at us because we break the laws of God’, he professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of God……Hey, let’s condemn him to a shameful death, ‘and just see if God takes care of him.’

This certainly was played out when Jesus came and did nothing but good works and speak truthful maxims, laws, and guidelines: his source: the only true source: THE WISDOM OF GOD HIMSELF! (hmmm actually Jesus is “God’s own Word” made into a human being, he is God’s WISDOM and TRUTH and JUSTICE likewise made flesh! Those utilizing the gift of faith that God gives anyone to use, for the asking, know this for certain as a simple fact that can be depended upon.

In the gospel passage, and at this time of our Lenten observance, the storm clouds are gathering against the most purely peaceful, truthful, joyful, happy, just, forgiving, merciful, compassionate, self-sacrificing human being who ever lived: who was also at the same time God, Jesus Christ, who would soon play out the sweet dramatic conclusion of his earthly life, by being murdered simply for being himself, the Man/God, come to open the gates of heaven, for any who choose to enter, by belief in him.

Two things to summarize: from afar we observe these events and say wow, Jesus was willing to go through all of this for me! Well, yes, for you, for each individual you who ever lived, lives, or will live.

But also, secondly, when we are apparent disciples of his, who want to get into those open gates of paradise, are ridiculed, mocked, shunned, ostracized and persecuted in a variety of way, up to and including be put to death – and we thus actually experience what he experienced with the conspiracy against him – then he tells us to REJOICE – to accept gladly and cheerfully any and all of the words and actions against us – the bullying and the rest – because Jesus himself will give us the grace and power to “get through it all” and “happily follow him all the way through life, and across the Bridge and into the Kingdom, where bullies, buffoons and self-seeking, self-gratifying, self-glorified buttheads and not allowed.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.  


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