Monday, June 13, 2005
LUKE 8:16-18
What is this lamp which, Jesus tells us in today's gospel, we are to put on a lamp stand? We, we are that lamp that is to be put on a lamp stand, radiating the light that is Christ to all people.
To radiate Christ and his values can be a perilous enterprise. Jesus himself learned this from his own personal experience. Wealth, power, well-being, status, respect: these were the powerful forces that compelled the Pharisees to deny the truth and to press Pilate for Jesus' death. These were the powerful forces that compelled Pilate to deny justice to Jesus.
Jesus once said he did not enter this world to judge it but to save it. Though he did not judge the world, many saw his way of life as a judgment on their own weakness and malice. Therefore, shamed by his strength and goodness, they attempted to destroy the light that Jesus was.
"If they persecute me they will also persecute you," Jesus told his disciples. He was speaking to us too. Persecution may fall far short of the martyrdom that Jesus suffered, and still be true persecution. It may make us the object of anger, ridicule, snide patronizing laughter, exclusion from companionship. There are many forms that persecution can take. It need not always be physically violent. Find a woman or a man who can remain faithful to Christ and his values in the face of withering laughter or painful rejection, or excommunication from the barkada and we find a person as brave as a martyr, as strong as Christ.
To radiate Christ and his values can be a perilous enterprise. Jesus himself learned this from his own personal experience. Wealth, power, well-being, status, respect: these were the powerful forces that compelled the Pharisees to deny the truth and to press Pilate for Jesus' death. These were the powerful forces that compelled Pilate to deny justice to Jesus.
Jesus once said he did not enter this world to judge it but to save it. Though he did not judge the world, many saw his way of life as a judgment on their own weakness and malice. Therefore, shamed by his strength and goodness, they attempted to destroy the light that Jesus was.
"If they persecute me they will also persecute you," Jesus told his disciples. He was speaking to us too. Persecution may fall far short of the martyrdom that Jesus suffered, and still be true persecution. It may make us the object of anger, ridicule, snide patronizing laughter, exclusion from companionship. There are many forms that persecution can take. It need not always be physically violent. Find a woman or a man who can remain faithful to Christ and his values in the face of withering laughter or painful rejection, or excommunication from the barkada and we find a person as brave as a martyr, as strong as Christ.
# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 12:57 PM 
