It’s morning now, and Jesus has already gone through a night of torture. His disciples have fled, and even Peter will deny knowing him as the cock gets ready to crow. We often ask ourselves what means to know Jesus. It certainly means more than just an intellectual assent, but being committed to care for others, often people we do not kno, even people we do not particularly like.
What does this mean for us in our time? In one sense, not that different from Jesus’ time, but in other ways, quite different. The cast of characters is certainly different, but for most of us, so are the risks.
The actions we know we must take do not carry the consequences of Jesus’ time. We certainly don’t face Pilate or Roman occupiers. In certain other countries of the world to speak out against injustice requires courage and sacrifice. The One we call Lord spoke to the demands of justice and mercy. We should not be fearful like Peter when he denied knowing Jesus.
Prayer for the Day
You know our inmost thoughts, our fears, our sorrows, O God,
And the weakness of will we often have in caring for others;
Help us move beyond the boundaries we set for ourselves,
So that we become witnesses not to death but to life.
Forgive us when we look inward instead of outward
And grant that we may have the courage to give what we are.
In the name of the One who heals us from our fears,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen
Thoughts for the Day
The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: 'If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?' But...the good Samaritan reversed the question: 'If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?
Martin Luther King (1929-1968)
The sacrifice is wasted if the attitude of serving is self-concerned and complaining in nature. How we serve, in other words, is just as important as what we serve.
Sally Clarkson, writer
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in God who will act.
God will make your vindication shine like the light,
And the justice of your cause like the noonday.
Psalm 37: 5-6