As we prepare, always inadequately, for Easter and the events preceding it, let us look this year at the Sermon on the Mount as recorded in Matthew's Gospel. We'll skip the most famous part - the Beatitudes - and begin with 5:11-12: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Many people read these verses and ignore the phrase "because of me." Jesus says that if we suffer on account of speaking about him, proclaiming the kingdom, or holding to our faith, then we are rewarded. He is not speaking of being rewarded for suffering in general - being sick, or your car breaking down, or someone yelling at you. That kind of suffering is not rewarded because it is a normal part of life. But suffering on behalf of the Gospel, the good news, is worthy of reward. This is the type of persecution suffered by the prophets. We recently looked at the call of Moses, Jeremiah and Isaiah. All suffered for carrying out the directives God gave them, as did the other Biblical prophets up to John the Baptist. For reflection: Even if I am not a prophet on the scale of Moses, Jeremiah or Isaiah, have I been open enough about the Gospel that I suffered for it? Let us pray. Here I am, Jesus. I do not seek suffering for the sake of suffering, but I seek the fullness of your kingdom on earth. I want to do my part to bring it about.
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Let's look at another prophet who didn't exactly make an excuse to God, but who recognized his deficiency before he answered a call from God. Isaiah has a vivid vision in which he sees the throne room of God Almighty with angels worshipping in full voice. The room shook and was filled with smoke. The magnificence of the vision terrorizes Isaiah, who cries out, "Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty" (Isaiah 6:1-5). One of the angels flies to Isaiah and touches a live coal to his lips as an act of atonement for his sin and remission of his guilt. Being cleansed, he is no longer a man of unclean lips. So when God asks, "Whom shall I send?" Isaiah is able to answer, "Send me" (Isaiah 6:6-8). Does Isaiah even know what he is volunteering for? Perhaps not. But by cleansing him God has equipped him to speak to a nation where justice is perverted, the poor are oppressed, idols are worshipped and the government looks to pagan nations for help rather than to God. But we see that just as God gave words to Moses and Jeremiah, God supplied words of prophecy to Isaiah. God does not call anyone without equipping them to do the job. For reflection: To what mission has God called me? How has God equipped me for that mission? Le us pray. Lord, we bow before your holiness and acknowledge that we too are a people of unclean lips. We see justice perverted and don't speak up. We see the poor oppressed and expect someone else to do something. We see our nation turn for help to anyone but you. Cleanse us of our sin, equip us with your words, and help us to proclaim your righteousness in the land. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. |
AliceI started this website and blog on May 1, 2012. I am a Catholic who has been in ministry for many years. I first developed what I would call a close relationship with Jesus in the early 1970s. Ever since then I have been praying with people for healing and other needs. It is because I have seen so many of these prayers answered that I am so bold as to offer to pray for you individually through this website and phone line. Archives
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