Gospel: Luke 12: 35-38
What king has ever sat his servants at the table of his royal banquet hall? What king has ever put on an apron and served his servants at table this great feast he has prepared for them? It is unheard of among us humans, for our kings are vain and seek to be served at all times and they treat their servants with derision as a general rule. If any kindness is ever showed to a servant it is only for the benefit of the king and his selfish ends.
By now we should regard the kingdom of God as entirely different and opposite from any kingdom here on earth. God's kingdom is not run by arbitrary decrees from an impetuous ruler; it is run by love and the example of the king himself who extends love and presents himself as a servant, not a warrior. By the example of the king are we to live our lives, for our king obeys his own commands and is love itself.
It is for this reason that spirituality and interest in Jesus persists while religion in general declines. Jesus lives what he teaches, he loves without measure. Religious leaders will act as the rulers of the world; they will cloak their hypocrisy in the pretentious robes of external piety. They will tell us to do one thing but themselves do quite another. But we have Jesus, our only model and guide, the one alone who saves and leads us to holiness, to the kingdom of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment