2 April 2012

2 April 2012



"A bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench"


What does this mean?  We know that Jesus isn't afraid to speak harsh words when necessary, calling the Pharisees whitewashed tombs saying "Get behind me, Satan" to Peter among other examples.  It likely means that he is more concerned with the truth of who we are than with the externals with which we busy ourselves.  That is why "everyone that does [bear fruit] he prunes so that it bears more fruit" and why "if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire."  He wants to get to the core of us. Can we call him gentle, considering all this?  Yes, because in the depths of our spirits he invites but does not coerce.  He is the perfect gentleman.  He will not trick us or force us. He will only state his love for us and stand ready to enable our response.


Jesus is our light and our salvation.  We can trust in him to not break us or extinguish us.  He wants to build us back.  He wants for us to not just smolder but burn fiercely.  He is on our side so we don't have to fear foes or enemies.


"Though an army encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
Though war be waged upon me,
even then will I trust."


This is because we believe that he is working for our good and that we shall therefore "see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living."  In anointing Jesus with the perfumed oil Mary Magdalene shows a willingness to let go of all that is external to her in love of Jesus.  We must guard against the superficially plausible response of Judas.  It is good to give to the poor but Jesus must come first.  Apart from him all such efforts are doomed to fade in the passage of time.  Do we really think that we can fix the world on our own if we just have enough resources? Lazarus sits at the table and silently bears witness to the importance of the centrality of Jesus.  The real problem is death and the only solution is in Jesus and absolutely orienting our lives toward him.


"Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD."