Lent II

Luke 13:31–35

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “You need to get out of town, and fast. Herod is trying to kill you.” Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox ‘Today and tomorrow, I will be casting out devils and healing people, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ Even with all that, I will need to continue on my journey today, tomorrow and the day after that, since no prophet can be allowed to die anywhere except in Jerusalem.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I wanted to gather your children together as a mother bird collects her babies under her wings, yet you refuse me! So take note: your house will be left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the One who comes in the name of our God!’”

Reflection -- by James Walker

This passage from Luke’s Gospel falls between two teachings of Jesus that are unsettling to the status quo. Indeed, from my perspective, Jesus is constant in his challenge to the sensible and proper conventions of accepted daily life. In the world that God is creating, “some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

So, as I begin my Lenten journey into the depths of contemplation, it occurs to me to focus my meditation on Jesus’ words in this lesson: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you!”

I’ve been told over the years that I can tend to take things too personally, so I figure I might as well continue that behavior, here. For you see, in this passage, I can easily hear Jesus talking to me — to us. How do I, in 2010, continue to slay, squelch and suppress the prophets? How do we as individuals, as a church, and as a nation betray the message and lives of those who have called us to live the liberating news of justice, peace and reconciliation?

The religious leaders in this lesson are encouraging Jesus to play it safe and get out of town before Herod destroys him. Yet the serenely powerful response of Jesus is to keep going at the work of healing, confronting evil directly, and bringing new life and health to those who are hungry for it. This isn’t play-it-safe, compliant behavior. Jesus clearly knows the dangers involved in this truth telling, in prophesying — especially to those in power. This is head-on, confrontational and subversive. He challenges the convenience of our lifestyles, belief systems and false allegiances.

And this is precisely why I choose to follow Jesus, the embodiment of God and role-model of how to live my life. Jesus shows me the way to live in love, including uncomfortable truth-telling, and that love is so immense and gives itself so fully that it will walk steadfastly to Jerusalem — even to execution on the cross.

In this Lenten season of contemplation and self-examination, I hope that we will prayerfully hear the courageous Jesus who heals us and calls us to question all systems that cause violence to the spirit of God in us or in any of our sisters and brothers. May we then offer ourselves as instruments of peace, reconciliation, justice, healing, love, hope and joy.

During the Week

Can you find a place to take Jesus’ words personally? In what ways are your thoughts and actions inhibiting the Reign of God?

Where can you find strength and encouragement to run the race with steadfast endurance?