26 February 2019 - prepared for trial

Today's Readings

(Audio)

"The Son of Man is to be handed over to men 
and they will kill him,
and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise." 

When we encounter the LORD we are drawn to him by his power, love, and divinity. He finally is the one who can be at once our "Yes" to God and God's "Yes" to us, the complete fulfillment of all his promises. He is the messiah, the anointed of the Father, who has the power to deliver us from all evil. And yet we hear, "My son, when you come to serve the LORD, stand in justice and fear, prepare yourself for trials." We didn't plan for this. The victory of God is accomplished no other way than through the cross. Encountering this reality often sends us to states of distraction or denial.

"What were you arguing about on the way?" 
But they remained silent.
For they had been discussing among themselves on the way
who was the greatest. 

Our pride and egoes are at risk so we do what we can to build them up rather than entering into the mystery of the call of Christ. We were prepared, perhaps, for hardships along the way. But the cross is so definitive. It calls for an entirely superhuman level of trust. We can't rely on prudence or human reasoning. God's wisdom alone can see us through.

You who fear the LORD, trust him,
and your reward will not be lost.

We can look back to the evidence of the faithfulness of God and trust that even the cross will somehow work out for the good.

Study the generations long past and understand;
has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed?

When we're afraid we can choose to enter into God's economy where love matters more than power. Doing so holds the secret that will see us through to the resurrection.

Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me.

The LORD is our "refuge in time of distress." But he does not always save us from the trials. Sometimes it is through them that new live is given.

The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.