If I tell you, you will by no means believe. And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God

 Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him.  And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy!  Who is the one who struck You?"  And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.

As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, "If You are the Christ, tell us."  But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe.  And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go.  Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God."  Then they all said, "Are You then the Son of God?"  So He said to them, "You rightly say that I am."  And they said, "What further testimony do we need?  For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth."

- Luke 22:63-71

Yesterday, we read that after Jesus was seized, He said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs?  When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me.  But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."  Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house.  But Peter followed at a distance.  Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them.  And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, "This man was also with Him."  But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him."  And after a little while another saw him and said, "You also are one of them."  But Peter said, "Man, I am not!"  Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean."  But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!"  Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.  And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.  Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."  So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

 Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him.  And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy!  Who is the one who struck You?"  And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.   Jesus begins the Passion, His suffering for righteousness' sake.  Earlier in Luke's Gospel we noted commentary by Origen, how Jesus fulfills all the Beatitudes within Himself.  We can see that in these verses.

As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, "If You are the Christ, tell us."  But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe.  And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go."  My study bible tells us that Jesus asked many questions of the Jewish leaders which they refused to answer because doing so would have meant confessing Him as the Christ (see Luke 20:4-7; Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 3:4).  Also, Jesus is in some sense exposing the illegality of this "trial" -- even according to their own law, Jesus is entitled to present His own witnesses and to question His accusers.   When He tells them that they will by no means let Him go, He's saying they've already set down a verdict without a true trial.

"Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God."  Then they all said, "Are You then the Son of God?"  So He said to them, "You rightly say that I am."  And they said, "What further testimony do we need?  For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth."  Jesus declares Himself in this statement, openly, in a sense, answering their question anyway -- His way.  This is a declaration of the truth, and of His equality to God.  Their plan was to accuse Him of blasphemy; they will never believe His testimony as true.

We see a Man on trial for righteousness' sake, for righteousness' sake He declares His truth.  But -- as He has said beforehand -- it falls on deaf ears, on those determined to put Him to death, those who will not listen nor respond to His own questions.  This is a mock trial, designed simply as formality (in violation of their own laws, including trial by night), in order to accuse Jesus and sentence Him to death.  We're told that the cause is envy (Mark 15:10).  If we examine this word for envy (φθόνος/phthónos in the Greek of the Gospel), we find at its heart a desire for bad things to happen to others -- not to raise oneself to the level of the other, but rather simply to tear someone else down.  It's a bitterness that results in happiness at another's misfortune.  It's something we all have to guard against.  Jesus, as noted before, is living out the Beatitudes.  He's being persecuted for righteousness' sake.  In Matthew 5:10-12, Jesus teaches, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."   Well, we know that His kingdom is the kingdom of heaven.  As we watch the Savior persecuted in this hour of darkness (after all, even according to their own laws, this trial is being held with many violations of normal justice), we have to keep His words in mind.  What has He done?  Every day He taught openly in the temple, yet here is an illegal night court.  His disciples are scattered; even Peter has denied Him in front of a servant girl outside.  This is what "darkness" is all about.  But, as John's Gospel teaches us, the light shines in the darkness, and even if the darkness doesn't comprehend, it still can't take away the light.  Let us think, as we "view" this scene, what it means to stand up for righteousness and to be persecuted for righteousness' sake.  Jesus says we are blessed at such times, that we should "rejoice and be exceedingly glad."  That's a very difficult road to follow, but He goes there, before us.  There are people in this world facing this choice every single day, all over the world.  Shall we live it with all of them?  How do you live it in your life?   How do we shine His light in us?  It is the joy we take in His word that is the real antidote to bitterness and envy.  Those who have ears to hear, let them hear.

Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness

 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs?  When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me.  But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."

Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house.  But Peter followed at a distance.  Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them.  And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, "This man was also with Him."  But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him."  And after a little while another saw him and said, "You also are one of them."  But Peter said, "Man, I am not!"  Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean."  But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!"  Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.  And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.  Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."  So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

- Luke 22:52-62

On Saturday, we read that left the Last Supper and He went to the Mount of Olives to stay the night, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.  When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."  And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."  Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.  And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly.  Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, he found them sleeping from sorrow.  Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep?  Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."  And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.  But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"  When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"  And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.  But Jesus answered and said, "Permit even this."  And He touched his ear and healed him.

 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs?  When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me.  But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."  Jesus makes it clear what "darkness" is.  He's openly taught in the temple, but they need to seize Him in secret, by night, with weapons, as if He's a robber or another kind of criminal.  My study bible cites John 3:19-21 here in reference to darkness:  "This is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” 

Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house.  But Peter followed at a distance.  Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them.  And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, "This man was also with Him."  But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him."   My study bible says that a girl being the first to test Peter gives us a kind of type or icon of Eve tempting Adam (Genesis 3:6).  It's a picture of our fallen state -- which is overcome as women are the first to hear, believe, and proclaim the Resurrection (Luke 24:1-10).  It is quite a humiliation for Peter that his denial comes in the face of a servant girl.

And after a little while another saw him and said, "You also are one of them."  But Peter said, "Man, I am not!"  Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean."  But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!"  Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.  And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.  Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."  So Peter went out and wept bitterly.   My study bible says that Peter is so overcome with fear that neither Christ's prediction (see Saturday's reading, above) nor the crowing of the rooster calls him to repentance.  Only the gaze of the Lord causes him to come to his senses and weep bitterly.  But, to quote Ambrose of Milan, "through tears, what cannot be defended can be purged, for tears wash away the offense which is shameful to confess out loud."

There is one thing consistent that we read about Peter all throughout the Gospels:  he's got his heart on his sleeve.  Whatever he's thinking or feeling, we know about it.  It tells us both about his exuberance -- and his honesty.  Peter is not a person to keep something hidden.  This one time he does something "in darkness," away from his companions, while Christ is inside, he comes to his senses and to understand what he's done with one glance from Christ.  His response is bitter tears for his betrayal and failure.   It's important that we pay attention to the commentary of St. Ambrose, that tears can wash away what it's shameful to confess.   But there is something that we learn about Peter that is related to a purity of heart:  his constant sincerity.  That's the good ground for faith.   He can't hide his Galilean accent, and he can't hide from who he is.  Christ has warned him that he would deny Him three times.  But we remember Jesus' words to Peter:  that the "darkness" is after all of them. He said, "Simon, Simon!  Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."  The really important thing here is that Peter should return to Christ, and to strengthen His brethren -- his brothers and sisters in Christ.  He lives in a community, and He's an extraordinary member of that community.  None of us is isolated from the whole, in the sense that even our prayers strengthen the faith of others; each may bring the light of grace more deeply and potently into the world.  We remember Peter's sincerity; he fails but he repents.  He will return to Christ and to the brothers and sisters he will strengthen.  Let it be a vivid reminder for all of us of the possibilities we have in Christ and in the love of Christ.  Let us remember Peter's failure in our own times of temptation, as well of his success in the love of God and the strength of faith.

Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation

 Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.  When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."  And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."  Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.  And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly.  Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, he found them sleeping from sorrow.  Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep?  Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."

And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.  But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"  When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"  And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.  But Jesus answered and said, "Permit even this."  And He touched his ear and healed him.

- Luke 22:39-51

Yesterday we read that Christ warned, "Simon, Simon!  Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."  But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death."  Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."  And He said to them, "When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?"  So they said, "Nothing."  Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.   For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me:  'And He was numbered with the transgressors.'  For the things concerning Me have an end."  So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords."  And He said to them, "It is enough."

Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.  When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."  And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."  Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.  And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly.  Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, he found them sleeping from sorrow.  Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep?  Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."  My study bible says that Christ's agony is the product of His human nature.  In asking that the cup be taken away, He reveals His human will.  He submits His human will to the Father, and thereby reveals the divine will to be one with the Father's -- He also shows that each person must submit his own will to God's will (Luke 11:2).  In His Incarnation Christ willingly takes in Himself the voice of weak humanity, and thereby conquers weakness, says my study bible. Gregory the Great is quoted here:  "The words of weakness are sometimes adopted by the strong in order that the hearts of the weak may be strengthened."   We also note His repeated admonition to the disciples in this deep time of trial:  "Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."   We observe the human weakness in the disciples, His companions, as they sleep because of sorrow. 

And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.  But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"  When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"  And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.  But Jesus answered and said, "Permit even this."  And He touched his ear and healed him.  My study bible points out that this healing by Christ is recorded only by St. Luke the physician.  It shows the manner in which we are to treat our enemies.   The Fathers, it says, see a spiritual meaning in the healing of the servant's ear, in that it's Christ who gives people the ability to hear the truth and thereby come to salvation (see Luke 8:8, 14:35).  It's seems that Jesus' words, "Permit even this," may be for forgiveness of the violence of the sword, something He didn't want.

As we observe Christ in this situation, it's important that we understand our conduct in the face of evil.  The greatest evil is happening:  He's been betrayed by His hand-chosen disciple Judas, one of the Twelve.  He's going to be put to death as a great criminal, on trumped up charges for the cause of envy by the leadership.  But His command is that He go willingly into this time of terrible injustice and extraordinary sin.  God walks through the evil of our world and becomes its "victim."  It is a voluntary sacrifice for reasons far beyond the understanding of those who perpetrate the crime.  And we note that the redemption of the Cross does not deny the evil or take away the reality of the evil; it overcomes.  It is God's purpose that uses everything for good, for the triumph of the spiritual truth.  But again, let's go to this scene and observe Jesus:  He's struck with His own sort of "conflict" -- the difference between the human and the divine, but as our example, submits to the will of the Father.  We can all see ourselves in this conflict in Christ.  Sometimes the things we're led to don't seem to make any sense in worldly terms, but we are to "go there" anyway.  Often we'll be asked to make sacrifices we don't want to make, but we "go there" anyway.  His words and His teaching to the disciples, to His friends who fall away in sleep and don't stay awake with Him this night, are to "rise and pray."  This again is an example for us in times of trial and evil.  It's how we're supposed to respond in our own times of trial, or observation of evil around us.  Often "bad things" may trouble us in the middle of the night; His solution to "rise and pray" is a good one, until peace returns.  And we pray "lest we enter into temptation" -- so that we are guided into the right way of response in such times.    This becomes extremely important at those times.   Jesus then responds to Judas with a question:  "Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" giving him yet another chance for repentance and salvation.  He is always healing, always offering the gospel.   No matter what is happening, Jesus sticks to spiritual truth.  He's not to respond with violence of any kind, He doesn't amass a worldly army for this kingdom, and he heals the ear of the servant of the high priest.  Throughout all the trials and temptations, the fear of what will happen with His disciples, Jesus sticks to the will of the Father.  He knows His mission and He will stay with it.  To watch and pray is to do our best to stay on point, on mission, to know the commands we're given.  Let us remember how He responds in times of trial, and how He teaches us to be.  Let us do likewise.

Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat

 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon!  Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."  But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death."  Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."

And He said to them, "When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?"  So they said, "Nothing."  Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.   For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me:  'And He was numbered with the transgressors.'  For the things concerning Me have an end."  So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords."  And He said to them, "It is enough."

- Luke 22:31-38

In yesterday's reading, Jesus had just instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper, saying, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."  After this there was a dispute among the disciples, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.  And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.'  But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.  For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves?  Is it not he who sits at the table?  Yet I am among you as the One who serves.   But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.  And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

  And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon!  Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."  But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death."  Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."   My study bible explains that you in the first verse ("Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat") is plural -- meaning that Satan has asked for all the disciples.  But in the second verse, you is singular ("But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren"), meaning that Jesus prayed particularly for Simon Peter.  My study bible says that because Peter's faith was the strongest, he would be tested the most.  (For "when you have returned to Me," see John 21:15-17.)   "Strengthen your brethren" refers not only to the disciples at Christ's time, but to all followers until He returns.

And He said to them, "When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?"  So they said, "Nothing."  Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.   For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me:  'And He was numbered with the transgressors.'  For the things concerning Me have an end."  So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords."  And He said to them, "It is enough."  My study bible says that the sword isn't to be taken literally -- but refers to the living word of God in the battle against sin (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12).    St. Ambrose teaches an additional meaning -- that giving up one's garment and buying a sword refers to giving up the body to the sword of martyrdom.  Since the disciples were thinking of literal swords, Jesus ends the discussion with the words, "It is enough," meaning "Enough of this!"  (see Deuteronomy 3:26, Mark 14:41).

So often we think of Peter's "trial" during the time He would deny Christ as just a drama that involves Peter somehow, an example to us all of the dangers of relying only on our own strength.  Perhaps it's always going to be a cautionary tale about our own zeal or relying on our own emotions or convictions.  But if we think about the commentary from my study bible, the explanation that the first verse here implies all the disciples and not just Peter ("Simon, Simon!  Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat"), then we enter into an understanding of a great time of evil, something that all of them will have to deal with.  It's not just a prophesy about Peter, not just a warning to him.  This is a time in which darkness is facing everyone, a time of great temptation to despair and falling away, with the power of evil at work in the world.  That's important for us to understand because it puts Peter's struggle right at the center of community.  He's the one who's their leader.  Most importantly, my study bible tells it to us really straight:  those of great faith will be tested the hardest.  You can't get around it, there's just too much telling us this:  our faith is tested in proportion to the strength we take in it, and expanded that way.  St. Peter isn't just a man alone, and he's not just "leader" of the apostles.  Leadership in Christ's terms means service, as He's just finished telling them in the previous verses (yesterday's reading, above).  Leadership is service.  It's not just being the "chief" or the "head" so that everybody follows.  Our understanding of leadership means that others are dependent on him for his service; his faith must be great because it feeds the rest of them and all of us who will follow.  It is in this context that Satan, the evil, comes to test particularly him, because the evil is after all of them, to "sift all of them like wheat."  When Jesus warns that now things are not as they were when He sent them out on their first mission, that it's the time now that they must take a money bag, and take a knapsack, sell what they have for a sword, He's warning them of the darkness coming upon the world and upon all of them as His Passion draws to its conclusion.   Let's note that although Jesus goes to His Passion voluntarily, the evil at work in plotting His death is not skipped over!  In this context, we take up the sword of truth, of the word, of His word, and hold fast to it.  This must be particularly so in times of testing, of temptation, when we see all else about us losing their heads in fear or panic or outrage or whatever happens to be going on in reaction to evil that hits us in life.  This is where the sword of truth must come in to strengthen our faith.  So let's not be naive about it, evil will come.  Evil does come.  We have a battle going on behind and within every other kind of battle we may think we see or feel in life.  We can look around us in the world -- all over the world! -- and see terrible evil at work, terrible injustice, with violence, lies, pain, and death in all kinds of forms.  That's the very time we need to watch, to hold fast to the sword of His word, to His truth, to find ways to strengthen our faith and maybe especially to strengthen one another in that faith.  We are community; we are not alone in our faith.  This is the purpose I write my blog, that I may water the mustard seeds in each of us.  It is a time of trial and we will have times of trial.  Let us remember and watch and pray.

The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.' But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves

 Now there was a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.  And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.'  But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.  For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves?  Is it not he who sits at the table?  Yet I am among you as the One who serves. 

"But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.  And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

- Luke 22:24-30

Yesterday, we read that when the hour had come for the Passover Meal -- the Last Supper, Jesus sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.  Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."  And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."    Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.  But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.  And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!"  Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.

  Now there was a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.  And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.'  But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.  For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves?  Is it not he who sits at the table?  Yet I am among you as the One who serves."  My study bible tells us that this small-minded dispute is out of place in the context of the mysteries that Christ has just revealed at the Last Supper (the Eucharist).  Perhaps it is Jesus' mention of fulfillment "in the kingdom of God" (see yesterday's reading, above).   Jesus corrects the disciples; this kingdom is nothing like a worldly one.  He first compares them to power-hungry Gentiles -- the kings of the world -- whom they themselves consider an abomination.  He contrasts these kings to Himself, who serves us even though He is Lord of all.   His voluntary death on the Cross will be the ultimate sacrifice and service to all the world, past, present, and future.

"But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.  And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."  My study bible quotes Ambrose of Milan:  "Christ judges by discerning the heart, and not by examining deeds.  So also the apostles are being shaped to exercise spiritual judgment concerning faith, and in rebuking error with virtue."  The apostles -- as those who will sit on thrones in the kingdom -- will not judge with earthy judgment, but by the witness of their own lives.  My study bible tells us:  "Since God's kingdom begins with the Resurrection of Christ, the authority of judgment has already been given to the apostles and their successors in the journey of the Church on earth (Matthew 16:19; John 20:23)."

It's a real lesson to all of us how Jesus' disciples immediately jump to considerations of who's going to be the greatest in this kingdom He is talking about.  He's just given them the Eucharist, He's rather explicitly laying out His sacrifice on the Cross, what is going to happen.  It's obviously of tremendous, exceptional importance when He tells them they must "do this in remembrance of Me."  After all, this is a command without time limits, and 2,000 years later is still the center and focus of our worship.  They also fail to understand the tremendous mystical reality that has just been instituted and given to them.  So, all in all, we could say that this is a great example of how our "worldly" minds work.  In that context, it's interesting that the first lesson He teaches them is humility.  It's the secret and the key to His power, His way.  In fact His whole system of power works in the opposite way in which they're thinking, the opposite and totally unexpected way compared to the kings of the Gentiles and the examples of great worldly power they know around themselves.  This isn't going to be that kind of kingdom!  Even though they have been His disciples for quite some time, living with Him, learning from Him in daily life throughout His ministry, witnessing His teaching and healing -- they still aren't in that place where their minds don't automatically jump to a worldly image of power at the mention of the fulfillment of His kingdom.   As leaders and judges to be, they must have it in their heads to serve, as He does.  And what does it mean to serve?  It means, as St. Ambrose has said above in the quotation from my study bible, the exercise of virtue, witnessing.  Our lives become examples of upholding His truth and His love.  We stand up for something.  We don't let easy sentiment drive our lives.  We don't take our opinions and emotions from the "worldly" and let the world sway us with its vehemence.  We stand with Him.  He is the One who has made the great sacrifice in order to institute a Kingdom and bring us all into it.  We must be like Him and not lose our heads to the worldly, to exaggerated and easy notions of power, to over-excited emotions and what the crowds of the moment seem to trumpet.  We witness by practicing virtue, we learn the discernment of the heart.   For that we must be right in our own center, with Him where He lives and dwells within us, focused in prayer, in what we know are the virtues He has taught, starting with humility -- not the focus on the desires of the crowds and the trappings of worldly glory.  His example of service is just the opposite of that.  We live in a world that still desperately needs such witnessing, such a Kingdom, such virtue and discernment of the heart.  Can we help serve it?


 

Do this in remembrance of Me

When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.  Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."  And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."    Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.  But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.  And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!"  Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.

- Luke 22:14-23

 Yesterday we read that while Jesus was in Jerusalem, in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.  Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.  Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.  And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.  Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.  So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.  And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.  So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.  Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.  And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat."  So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?"  And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.  Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"'  Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready."  So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

  When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.  Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."   My study bible tells us that Christ has a fervent desire for this Passover because this meal will give the mysteries of the new covenant to His followers -- and this event will inaugurate the great deliverance of humanity from sin through the power of the Cross.

Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."   My study bible says that this first cup concludes the Old Testament Passover meal that Christ eats with His disciples in fulfillment of the Law.  Until the kingdom of God comes means until His Resurrection -- at that time He will again eat and drink with His disciples (Luke 24:43; Acts 10:41).

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.  Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you."    Jesus "gave thanks" as He instituted this first Eucharist.  The word Eucharist comes from the Greek word for "giving thanks" (euxaristo means "thank you" in modern Greek).    So this word immediately came to mean both the Liturgy and the sacrament of Holy Communion.  My study bible refers to the Didache, which is a collection of the earliest teachings of the apostles,  in which the celebration of the Liturgy is called "the Eucharist."  St. Justin writes of Holy Communion in the year AD 150, "This food we call 'Eucharist,' of which no one is allowed to partake except one who believes that the things we teach are true, and has received the washing [holy baptism] for forgiveness of sins and for rebirth, and who lives as Christ commanded us."   In the Orthodox Churches, it has always been accepted that Christ's words - "This is My body" - are true, "that the food consecrated by word of prayer which comes from Him is the flesh and blood of that incarnate Jesus" (St. Justin).   For the Eastern Church, this is understood simply as a mystical reality, a mystery of God, not humanly explainable.  This was the view of the universal Church for the first 1,000 years of Christianity.

"But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.  And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!"  Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.  My study bible points out to us that Judas too is invited to the table for the mystical supper:  Jesus is seeking by all means to save him!   We are invited here to consider what "unworthy participation" means in terms (see 1 Corinthians 11:27-30).

Jesus' sacrifice is laid out plainly for us.  He is the sacrificial paschal lamb.  In the words of churches all over the world (taken from 1 Corinthians 5:7-8), "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast."   We have to understand just how His sacrifice works, but maybe most importantly, why this is such a turning point in spiritual history -- how His sacrifice changes the ways in which we see ourselves and relate to God and one another.   The paschal lamb was a sacrifice of a "perfect" animal, unblemished.  It was a commemoration in accordance with the commands of the Law of the first Passover, when the blood of the lamb was sprinkled on doorposts so that the angel would "pass over" those homes on the first night of the Exodus.  Many see Jesus as a "continuation" of this, once and for all:  His sacrifice liberates all of us, and so we partake of that sacrifice.  But we also have to see what it is for Him to sacrifice Himself as the ultimate offering for the rest of us:  in effect, He consecrates His entire life and mission in this world to the will of God -- He dies as an act of love.  Our commemoration is in bread and wine, and the mystical reality of the presence of the Spirit.  The sacrifices He asks of us are a "broken and contrite heart," echoing the words of the Psalmist in the Psalm so often used for repentance in the Church.   Our participation in His sacrifice therefore becomes something that is a part of ourselves, something we're willing to give up to God.  Thereby we have community (in Communion) and also forgiveness:  forgiveness -- in addition to being something we seek to be restored to community in Christ -- is also our own act of giving up something to God.  We come before the altar of His great sacrifice to take our Communion or Eucharist, and we "give up" (the real meaning of the Greek word in the Gospels translated as "forgive") whatever it is that holds us back from full restoration and relatedness to Him, and through God, to community.   Were we abused?  Have we been wronged?  Bring it to the altar, asked to be made free, and find God's guidance for right relatedness.  Once again, as we've written in our commentary before, forgiveness doesn't right a wrong or change what has happened.  Repentance on the part of the one giving the hurt remains a responsibility to God and community.  But our own relationship to community is restored as we are willing to come before God and find God's way.   A famous preacher sometimes teaches that we might not be able to trust that person again, but we can still forgive.   Do we have something for which we need to be forgiven?  The words to God are simple when they really come from the heart:  "Please forgive me."   Right relatedness depends on our willingness to come to Him, and to be made free so that we may move on His way and still practice love, still be the full human being He can make us and calls us to be.  That is sacrifice His way, inviting us in to be with Him in the deepest sense possible, and giving us the greatest fullness we can have in return.  How do you meet Him and find your true way to community?

Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve

And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.  Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.  And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.  Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.  So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.  And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.  So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.  And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat."  So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?"  And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.  Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"'  Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready."  So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

- Luke 21:37-22:13

 Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.  But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

 And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.  Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.  Jesus, who's been welcomed into Jerusalem as Messiah, doesn't stay in fancy lodgings and He's not the guest of the wealthy.  He stays with the pilgrims on Mr. Olivet.   But daily "all the people" come to hear Him in the temple starting from early in the morning

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.   And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.  My study bible explains that Passover (Pascha in the Greek) is a celebration of the destruction of the firstborn of Egypt, and the deliverance of God's people from bondage (Exodus 12-14).  At Passover, an unblemished lamb was slaughtered in remembrance, and eat together with unleavened bread (used as the Israelites departed in haste).  It is Holy Week, and the Passover prefigures Jesus' Passion -- the only-begotten Son of God is slain in order to deliver His people from their bondage to sin and death, and then is raised to lead them into the eternal Kingdom.  In the Greek, Pascha (known as Easter in the West) is the primary term by which one refers to the death and Resurrection of Christ.

 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.  So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.  And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.  So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.  My study bible tells us that Satan does not enter a man except by the man's consent.  It says that the reason Satan chose Judas and none of the others is because Judas had a place for Satan in his heart, while the others did not.  It says, "Luke's mention of Judas being numbered among the twelve emphasizes the depth of the betrayal and shows that religious position is worthless if not accompanied by faith and virtue."

Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.  And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat."  So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?"  And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.  Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"'  Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready."  So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.   My study bible lets us know that the term Passover (Pascha in the Greek) can refer to the original event it commemorates, a celebration of that event, the food that is eaten, or the lamb that is slain.  It says that according to patristic commentary, Peter represents zeal while John represents spiritual understanding, "the virtues with which we are to partake of the Lord's Supper."

 Jesus honors the Law and the Prophets:  His fulfillment of His mission includes His devotedness to Jewish spiritual heritage.  It's important that we acknowledge that whatever is "wrong" with Judas, his betrayal is not done in the cause of Jewish heritage or its defense.  There is something completely different at work here.  My study bible gives us a clue when it talks about vulnerability in Judas to betrayal.  Was there something that triggered him?  John's Gospel suggests his love of money, that he was the "treasurer" and would steal.  We know the scene that happens shortly before betrayal, also given us by John:  Judas with others chastises the woman who uses a jar of expensive ointment to anoint Christ.   Christ says she has done it out of love, in preparation for His burial, and says, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.  For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."  It's a public rebuke to Judas.  But there we have a statement by Christ that goes beyond "legalism," and into the territory of love.  Jesus honors her gesture, but for a person who thinks strictly in terms of dollars and cents she's criticized for her choices; she's not following a rule.  Perhaps this exposes Judas' great blind spot, the place where Satan can take hold.  We've all got to open our hearts to where love calls us, because love is the reason and meaning behind all laws.  It's like all the "rules" we might find in churches for fasting, for example, or for ways we observe worship.  Those are helpful tools for the practice of our faith, but it's love that is the substance of the God we worship.  Sin is what is against God, not a violation of rules.   It's Jesus who taught that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.  It's in that place, the true object of our worship, that we go in Jesus' healing paradigm:  He has come to save, not to condemn.  Maybe Judas just can't quite "get" that message.  Some say he expected the Messiah to be a political ruler, overthrowing the Romans.  But what we do know is that Jesus will attempt until the last minute to save Judas, despite the fact of betrayal.  Let's look to ourselves and our own expectations to see where we, too, are vulnerable, where we have "blind spots."  Sometimes we have to give up the deepest fondest beliefs we have to follow Christ, even the things we rest our identity upon.  His love will call us to a wholeness we may resist, and draw us out of the groups we know.  Judas turns to the leadership who resents and envies Jesus, and betrays his Master.   Let us see how Jesus responds, and remember that it is His Way that defeats the devil, His light that shines in the darkness, always there on offer for us to heal, and be made truly whole.  Let's take a look at the darkness here, everything is done in hiding, via manipulation, in the shadows.   Jesus teaches openly in the temple by day.

Take heed to yourselves

 Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

- Luke 21:29-36

In our recent readings, Jesus is in the temple at Jerusalem, and He's been teaching daily since He made His Triumphal Entry into the holy city.   He has cleansed the temple, been questioned as to His authority to do what He's doing, and challenged by the leadership.  He's done some seriously challenging of His own in return.  As some of His disciples admired the great, fabulous building of the temple, Jesus began to prophesy about its destruction, and the times before His Return.  In Saturday's reading, He warned:  "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.  And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations.  And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.  And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

 Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."   Jesus gives a parable of the fig tree (often used as a symbol of Israel in Scripture).  The fruit comes in the summer; the buds are signs of what is coming.  "This generation" is true for the destruction that He has warned about that is coming to the city of Jerusalem -- as we've discussed in recent readings, that would happen in 70 AD with the Siege of the Jerusalem, the time when the temple was destroyed by the Romans, and not one stone was left upon another.    There is another prophesy here, tied in with the powerful reality of the destruction of the temple and the city of Jerusalem, and that is the time of His return; in that sense "generation" refers to the believers of the present age which was initiated by His Incarnation and mission in the world.  That "heaven and earth will pass away" but His words "will by no means pass away" is a solemn affirmation of the prophesy.  The message for all of us is that we must be watchful, aware.

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."  Here is the most important part of the warning:  in this time period, as we await His return, what are we to be about?  What is our concern and focus?  Our concern is precisely to stay focused, alert, aware.  Watch ourselves, we're told, so that we don't forget who we are, how we're to live, and what our lives are supposed to be about in the world.  Jesus repeatedly teaches that this will come "as a snare," that nobody will know the time of His return, it will catch us all unaware.    That's the most pertinent message He gives -- a strong signal about our own watchfulness and awareness of what our lives are to be about.

Jesus ends with a teaching that we must watch and pray, "that we may be counted worthy to . . . stand before the Son of Man."  It's a way of teaching us to be aware not just of judgment, but of the discerning eye of Christ that's always aware of what we're doing and what we're about.  We're supposed to have that eye on ourselves and awareness of ourselves:  What's our focus?  Are we alert to His teachings in our daily lives?  Are we practicing mercy?  The Fathers of the Church, the patristic writers, have consistently commented on the one most important thing:  the practice of mercy in our lives.  Indeed, Christ has taught that "blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."  We're to be like Him, who came into the world not to condemn, but to save.  And I think that at this time in our history, we really need to think about what that means.  What does it mean to save and not to condemn?  He took the most notorious sinners -- the chief tax collector Zacchaeus might make a good example here -- and taught that "those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick."  In fact, if we look closely at this statement, made in Luke's chapter 5, after Jesus was criticized for dining with tax collectors, what we see in a careful reading is that for the word "sick," Jesus actually uses "kakos" in the Greek.  Kakos generally means "bad" or "evil."  It implies misery and affliction, and also a place that is "wrong."   In its form as a noun (rather than adverb), it's a word that designates the evil in the world.  If our place is way on the wrong side of things, then, we need correction, healing, strong medicine, repentance.  But that isn't administered through a regime of force; it's the ministry and mission of Jesus Christ in the world.  That's what His saving mission is all about.  In the end, as He makes very clear to us in His warnings about His Second Coming, we're the ones responsible for a decision to be healed or to remain ill, stuck in the "wrong" or the "evil" or "bad," the things that give us pain, misery, affliction -- those places where we might be lost in carousing, or cares of the world, or drunkenness (unawareness of ourselves and our true purpose).  But His healing is always on offer; our condemnation or loss to Him is not what He wants.  It also becomes a question of whether or not we understand that His saving mission should be our concern as well.  What needs healing around you?  Where do you need to turn to Him for His healing in yourself?  The act of forgiveness, we might remember in our practice of mercy, isn't a justification of sin.  It's a giving up of the "kakos" around us to God, and asking for God's perspective and mission in our own lives instead:  His guidance, His way.  That is, how He wants us to go through it, to deal with it, to handle things.  For this, we watch and pray.

When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near

 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.  And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations.  And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

- Luke 21:20-28

In our current readings in Luke, Jesus is in Jerusalem.  Yesterday, we read that as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, "These things which you see -- the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down."  So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be?  And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?"  And He said:  "Take heed that you not be deceived.  For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.'  Therefore do not go after them.  But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately."  Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.  But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons.  You will be brought before kings or rulers for My name's sake.  But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.  Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.  You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.  And you will be hated by all for My name's sake.  But not a hair of your head shall be lost.  By your patience possess your souls."

  "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.  And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations.  And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."  Jesus speaks of the immediate threats in the near future (within a generation) directly to Jerusalem.  Because of His warnings, the early church escaped the destruction of Jerusalem.  This prophesy was manifest in 70 AD, during the Roman Siege of Jerusalem.   We remember that this conversation began with the great admiration and wonder at the astonishing building of the temple, built by Herod the Great, also known as Herod the Builder -- known for his harshness as ruler and also for his ambitious building projects.  The temple was one of the wonders of the world, but Jesus' prediction that "not one stone would be left upon another" would come true, as soldiers believed there was gold between the stones.  Only one retaining wall would remain standing, today known as the "Wailing Wall" or "Western Wall."   Jesus' warning is extremely vivid, giving them a clear picture of when to flee the city and how urgent the time will be.

"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."  Here, the narrative shifts to the time of His Return, the end of the age which has begun with His mission into the world to save it, to turn us to the things of God.   These are the signs He gives for that time, just as He gave His disciples the signs of the time to leave Jerusalem.

What we can observe in today's reading is the tribulation or difficulties Christ predicts for His flock.  He's not leaving them in a world that is all fixed and perfect, far from it.  He's leaving them in a world that has all kinds of problems in it, with the Spirit to guide them into all truth, to teach testimony, to teach prayer.  We're not to expect a perfect world and a perfect life, but rather we enter into His work in a troubled world.  As we look at the world today, we can see loads of "trouble" everywhere:  persecutions, shootings in a Church, and none of it looks like it's waning.  We find ourselves in the midst of tribulations, wars, violence.  But what that means, according to His word, is that He's calling to us in all the midst of it to be His disciples.  Our faith needs to be stronger when we realize how badly the world needs the gospel message, our testimony, and the things that make for His peace.  In such times and when we see things that make us fear, we need to be even more firmly rooted and centered in His place of the heart, where the gospel speaks to us, the Spirit directs us, His life lives in us and teaches us what we are to be about.  We take root in God's love for us, and strengthen ourselves and one another in that place.  Let us understand that He did not leave us promising that our lives as His followers were going to be perfect, but rather that we, His friends, are entered into His battle for salvation, by remaining rooted in His great love and mission to save.

By your patience possess your souls

 Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, "These things which you see -- the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down."  So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be?  And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?"  And He said:  "Take heed that you not be deceived.  For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.'  Therefore do not go after them.  But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately."

Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.  But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons.  You will be brought before kings or rulers for My name's sake.  But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.  Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.  You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.  And you will be hated by all for My name's sake.  But not a hair of your head shall be lost.  By your patience possess your souls." 

- Luke 21:5-19

Yesterday, we read that after an encounter with Sadducees and scribes in the Jerusalem temple, Jesus said to them, "How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David?  Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms:  'The Lord said to my Lord,  "Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool." '  Therefore David calls Him 'Lord'; how is He then his Son?"  Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers.  These will receive greater condemnation."  And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.  So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had."

 Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, "These things which you see -- the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down."   I can't help but be struck by the fact that Jesus has just told His disciples to beware of the scribes, because they "go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers."    This temple was an absolutely stunning, grand building; built by Herod the Great who was also known as Herod the Builder.  It was one of the wonders of the world of its time.  But He's telling them not to be fooled by appearances.   There's a deeper reality at work here beyond what they see.  This prophesy was fulfilled in AD 70, during the Roman Siege of Jerusalem.  We remember also Jesus' lament over Jerusalem as He entered the holy city.

So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be?  And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?"  And He said:  "Take heed that you not be deceived.  For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.'  Therefore do not go after them.  But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately."    Christ's emphasis is on awareness (and here, a warning against deception by false Christs), another way of teaching us not to rely on appearances.   There is also a sort of chronology given, warning His disciples about the destruction to come in Jerusalem.  He emphasizes virtue as well as awareness, telling them not to be terrified.  My study bible suggests that "wars and commotions" first and foremost applies to Jerusalem, but also certainly include subsequent wars.  It notes that wars are not a sign of the imminent end, but of the opposite -- that "the end will not come immediately."

Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.  But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons.  You will be brought before kings or rulers for My name's sake.  But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony."   Calamities and opposition can't stop the spread of the gospel, my study bible notes.  Rather persecutions against the Church often increase the number of souls being converted.  My study bible refers to St. John Chrysostom, who "marvels that while the Romans subdued countless Jews in a political uprising, they could not prevail over twelve Jews unarmed with anything except the gospel of Jesus Christ."  I consider Jesus' words, "It will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony," to be the great focus and teaching for us here.

"Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.  You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.  And you will be hated by all for My name's sake.  But not a hair of your head shall be lost.  By your patience possess your souls."   Here is the revelation of the gift of the Holy Spirit, at work in them in the midst of the persecution.  We are to be reliant on God, on the Spirit -- even while betrayal may go to the deepest and most personal and important places in our lives.   For the love of Him, we may be objects of social hatred, "hated by all."   We are asked to stand firm and by our patience "possess our souls."

Jesus speaks of the need for a tremendous resilience and faith on the part of those who follow Him.  This isn't just a "go to church on Sunday" kind of faith He's talking about here.  This is about persecutions and life on the line, in which we're hated for our faith.  It's a sort of question of identity:  how do we really identify ourselves?  With whom do we truly affiliate?  If life in Christ is the basis for identity, then that puts us into a kind of perspective that sets us apart into a place where our internal strength and integrity must come into play.  Christ calls on us to be discerning, patient, and faithful.  We see tribulation of many kinds around us in the world today.  Violence claims lives in increasingly shocking and troubling ways.  Violence in a church has shaken us here in the United States.  But if we really do take our identity from Him, we've got to ask ourselves what it is He asks of us.  Our faith has to remain the root of how we conduct ourselves, in the truth of His love for us, and our faith in His gospel message.  If we focus on these virtues of awareness ("take heed that you not be deceived") and of not letting fear or panic run our lives ("do not be terrified"), if we center in on the fact that in persecutions or tribulation the Kingdom reminds us that there is an occasion for testimony, then we stand in the right place.  We can act in the patience by which we possess our souls.  And we can most of all rely on the Spirit to help us, to teach us, to pray in us, to teach us how we ought to pray, and to give us proper testimony, witnessing.  That's the central line we tread, the way we focus in and know who we are and what it is we must be about, no matter what is going on around us.  Let us pray for the martyrs of violence, wherever they may be, and remember what our calling must be while in the world He came not to condemn, but to save.  By our patience we possess our souls, our most precious commodity.

Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation

 And He said to them, "How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David?  Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms:

'The Lord said to my Lord,
"Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." '

Therefore David calls Him 'Lord'; how is He then his Son?"

Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers.  These will receive greater condemnation."

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.  So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had."

- Luke 20:41-21:4

In our readings, Jesus is currently in Jerusalem, teaching daily in the temple.  Yesterday, we read that some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, saying:  "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.  Now there were seven brothers.  And the first took a wife, and died without children.  And the second took her as wife, and he died childless.  Then the third took her as wife, and he died childless.  Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died.  Last of all the woman died also.  Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become?  For all seven had her as wife."  Jesus answered and said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.  But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.  But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'  For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him."  Then some of the scribes answered and said, "Teacher, You have spoken well."  But after that they dared not question Him anymore.

 And He said to them, "How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David?  Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms:  'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool." '  Therefore David calls Him 'Lord'; how is He then his Son?"  Jesus poses a question to the experts who have questioned Him as to His authority, such as the scribes.  If they are experts in the Scriptures, how do they explain this passage?   My study bible tells us that the first reference to the Lord applies to God the Father, while the term my Lord refers to Christ.  The question is answered in that Christ is the Son of David in His humanity and David's Lord in His divinity.   It's a riddle directed at the experts in Scripture, a "hidden" way (to them) of answering their questions regarding His authority.   It's also a way of expressing His identity as the stone that becomes the chief cornerstone.

Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers.  These will receive greater condemnation."  Here's a direct hit at the scribes, who as experts in Scripture fail to see the answers to His questions about Scripture that reveal His identity in a way that is completely hidden to them.  Their emphasis is on their positions, their honor from "men" rather than the honor that comes from God.  He hits at their hypocrisy resulting from what they truly care about.  The idea hidden here is the emphasis on the heart, the deeper things at the center of identity and love of God, which go hand in hand.    It is a kind of hard-heartedness that keeps them from opening their awareness to Christ's presence, identity and authority.

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.  So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had."  Here is what One sees without pretense and hypocrisy, without an emphasis on the "praise of men," but rather the "praise of God."   My study bible says that according to Church Fathers, the Lord accounts the value of a gift not by how much is given, but by how much is kept back.  Thus, the poor widow is counted to have given a great gift, having kept nothing for herself.    It's a gift of tremendous generosity, and full-heartedness.

Jesus' praise of the poor widow stands in sharp contrast to His criticism of the scribes, those who love their places in the temple and before the people.  It's an important expression of how God sees us, how God judges -- in other words, it's the true judgment we should all strive to see correctly.  In John's Gospel (12:43), there is an important statement about those who did believe in Christ, but were afraid of losing their places in the synagogue, "for they loved the glory of men more than the glory of God."   It's a very important thing to think about because it defines the way that we see life and the importance and weight of our choices.  It defines what we think is most essential.  Jesus' criticism of the scribes comes under this sort of discernment, about what is important to them.  If we try to notice Jesus' consistency, we remember His answer to the question about what the greatest commandment was.  He actually gave two in response, the first being about our total commitment in our love of God, and the second was like it, but about loving neighbor as we love ourselves.  Each is at work here, in the heart of the widow (and each is lacking in the things which the scribes put an emphasis of importance on) and also in how Jesus sees this widow and encourages each one of us to see her.  He's calling His disciples -- and so each one of us -- to a kind of sight that doesn't depend upon what's glorified by the world, what looks glamorous, but rather an insight of  the heart, the real center of each person.  I don't think there could be a more dramatic emphasis to us about what's really important, and Jesus' love of the poor and the humble is very closely tied to all of it.   The outsiders (the truly "poor and humble" regarding whatever "currency" one believes in) are always emphasized by Christ as they call us toward a deeper way of seeing than the sort of glory that comes from worldly praise.  Sometimes God strips us in our own lives of the things we think are important just in order to get to this place where we're forced to focus in on what's of real importance to us, and who we really are internally, in the heart.  When we get to that place, we just might find that it's His two greatest commandments that are the real things that matter most deeply:  love of God (Who is love and life itself), and right-relatedness to neighbor as we're taught by God the source of love.  These things become a bedrock for everything else.  They are the rock and the foundation what's real, and what's true, what we can count on when everything else disappears.  In today's reading He calls us to truly see what is what.  It is the scribes -- even though they are experts -- who can't really see; they are blinded by the glory that is worldly, even though cloaked in the framework of the institution of the temple.  The reality of God's life is right there in the center of everything, but we get trapped by our own choices and desires for what's important to us.  He shows us what is true, and invites us to share in His good judgment.  For that we need to open our hearts to something far more than meets the eye!

The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection

 Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, saying:  "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.  Now there were seven brothers.  And the first took a wife, and died without children.  And the second took her as wife, and he died childless.  Then the third took her as wife, and he died childless.  Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died.  Last of all the woman died also.  Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become?  For all seven had her as wife."

Jesus answered and said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.  But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.  But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'  For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him."  Then some of the scribes answered and said, "Teacher, You have spoken well."  But after that they dared not question Him anymore.

- Luke 20:27-40

Yesterday, we read that the chief priests and the scribes that very hour (after He told the parable of the Wicked Vinedressers against them) sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people -- for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.  So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.  Then they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth:  Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"  But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Why do you test Me?  Show Me a denarius.  Whose image and inscription does it have?"  They answered and said, "Caesar's."  And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."  But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people.  And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.

 Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, saying:  "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.  Now there were seven brothers.  And the first took a wife, and died without children.  And the second took her as wife, and he died childless.  Then the third took her as wife, and he died childless.  Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died.  Last of all the woman died also.  Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become?  For all seven had her as wife."    We've already read that some groups in the leadership are plotting against Jesus, and in yesterday's reading we saw how the chief priests and scribes sent spies to lay a trap for Jesus by asking a question in which either a "yes" or "no" answer would lead to dire consequences.  Today it's the Sadducees who approach Him, with a question relevant to who they are.  The Sadducees were a wealthy, aristocratic type of landowning class in Jerusalem.  They made up a part of the Council, and as a group they died out after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.  They did not generally hold to the idea of resurrection, so the question is pertinent to their views.  One might also extrapolate that questions of inheritance and property would also be very relevant to their own lives and understanding.

Jesus answered and said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.  But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.  But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'  For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him."  Then some of the scribes answered and said, "Teacher, You have spoken well."  But after that they dared not question Him anymore.   Jesus teaches them about the true picture of resurrection:  it's not to a life identical to worldly life.   My study bible suggests that Jesus is pointing out here the Sadducees' unawareness of the Scriptures, which reveal that the life to come is a complete transfiguration of worldly life -- so their questions are irrelevant.  They fail to understand how Abraham and his sons can be alive in God even if they are physically dead.  My study bible notes:  "It is the clear teaching of Christ that the souls of the faithful who have departed this life are sustained before the face of God in anticipation of the final joy of resurrection."   The scribes, whose job it is to know the Scriptures, are awed and silenced by Jesus' response.

It's interesting to look closely at the characteristics of life "in the age to come" and in the resurrection from the dead, that Jesus leaves us here.  It's a clear depiction -- even to these Sadducees who do not believe in resurrection -- of how life is changed from worldly life to the life of the Kingdom.  First of all, there is no marriage.  Life is eternal.  This suggest that the ties between people are no longer structured on basic family units, but given that the Scriptures teach us that God is love, relationships become those embraced through love and not through questions of inheritance or longevity.  That puts the focus of the legacy of our lives -- in this heavenly place -- squarely on our own legacy of love, and not physically upon descendants or lineage.  It's a focus that is really important to the gospel message, a facet of what it is to live life "in spirit and in truth."   To be a "son of God" is to inherit Gods' kingdom, male and female in the worldly sense, each via faith becomes a "son of God" and "son of the resurrection."  Maybe most of all in importance is the very focus on life that Jesus puts here to us.  The fact that God is the God of all the generations of the faithful ("the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob") tells us something about an eternal present, life itself as an eternal reality in which we can participate by faith.  It's important that this is tied to the burning bush:  a symbol of flame that doesn't burn, an eternal energy, a force of love and pure life itself.    In the Eastern Church, the burning bush is also considered an "icon" or "type" of the Virgin Mary, the one who was visited by the Holy Spirit and remained intact in her purity of heart.  Jesus tells us plainly that all live to God; that is, it is God who not only is life and declares life, but in whom our lives exist; our true reconciliation in God therefore is true life itself.  It is the reality, the presence, and the gift of life -- surpassing every limitation we know or can imagine.  What's even more awesome to think about is that this life and love is the very foundation of all of creation; whatever we may think we know from a worldly perspective, the "in between" of everything is love, the burning fiery life of God in which we may be included by our faith.  We worship, Jesus has said, in spirit and in truth -- and there we share His life as "sons."