The God of Peace calls us
To bear the fruits of the Spirit
To respond to the call of Christ
By announcing the good news, the gospel of peace
Song “The Summons”
https://youtu.be/VFXAmB_Iq7k
Reflection on Luke 23v33-43
Today we are remembering who we serve, who we are trying to follow. In this passage, Jesus is being questioned about who he is. To a Roman governor he was probably just a nuisance, a rebel rouser. Jesus constantly hides who he really is except for those who have ears to hear and eyes to see.
Luke here describes the crucifixion of Jesus: of the three "criminals" led to the place of execution, the place called The Skull and them being nailed to the transverse beam of the cross. Jesus' innocence is drawn out, "this man has done nothing wrong",
The place of The Skull, was named after a skull-like rock formation that was outside the city wall. Nails were normally used for crucifixion.
The soldiers divide the spoil, Jesus' cloths, v34 and the soldiers gamble over Jesus' few possessions, predicted in Ps.21:19. While they are doing this Jesus prays "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
They mock Jesus and the religious officials abuse and sneer at him, ---but the people stand watching. The soldiers shout, he said he saved others, let him save himself, if, he is the Christ, the Messiah, the one God has chosen.
The soldiers' offer cheap wine, vinegar. A king would not be offered poor wine, cf. Ps.69:21. They think that the idea of Jesus' being a king is a joke. As with Pilate, these Gentile soldiers understand the word "messiah" to mean "anointed one" a king, in this case, "king of the Jews", unlike the religious authorities who stay with the title "messiah", v35.
v38: The charge against Jesus was nailed above him. It serves as a short-hand statement of the charge for which he is found guilty and for which he is executed. The charge is a political one, namely, claiming to be the king of the Jews, although as Luke makes clear, Jesus never claims political status, that he is the king of the Jews. It’s a trumped up charge.
v39 The response of the two criminals/terrorists crucified with Jesus, is of abuse and faith, v39-43. The first criminal suggests that since Jesus is the Christ, he might like to do something about their situation. The second criminal has recognised Jesus is the Christ, and reminds his friend that it is dangerous for a justly condemned criminal to deride God's righteous one. He asks Jesus for his eternal care. The phrase "remember me" is actually a common prayer found on gravestones of this period. v43 Jesus tells the insurgent he will be with him in paradise, today. And it became very dark.
We like to follow gurus, politicians, journalists, tv stars. But Jesus in contrast has a quiet power choosing a small group of people to love and nurture. He spends three years preparing a small group when he is taken away from them. Teaching, praying, healing and baptizing, eating and drinking with them. This is his style of leadership. The power is in its integrity. Jesus was not a king as we know kings, but a servant king who came to serve and not to be served.
Pilate had asked him “Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus said “Whatever you think!" Jesus has said, “My kingdom is not of this world". Jesus establishes that his role, as deliverer-king, is spiritual and not political and is therefore, not a threat to Roman rule, so not a threat to Pilate. The title "king" is not one Jesus chose himself. He avoids the title.
So this is the king we follow, encouraging us on a humble, patient way, speaking truth and having integrity, pilgrims on a journey to another world beyond this one. A king who has come to live with us, pitched up his tent among us to show us another way of being. Choose your kings wisely! We say this as the President in the US desires kingship but many of the people reject his kingship.
Next week we enter a time of preparation and waiting, preparing for the coming again of the Christ into our lives at the Christ/mass. In the Bible this time of waiting was heralded by the prophets who predicted both the coming of Jesus and of John, his forerunner. In the church, historically this has been a time of fasting and preparing for the Jesus’ coming.
Our prayers for our world…
Song “The Servant King” https://youtu.be/A0FSZ_iSYO8?feature=shared
Be upon everything our eyes see
Be upon all we hear
Be on our bodies that come from the earth
Be on our souls that come from heaven
For ever and ever. Amen
Para produzir os frutos do Espírito
Para responder ao chamado de Cristo
Anunciando as boas novas, o evangelho da paz
https://youtu.be/VFXAmB_Iq7k
Reflexão sobre Lucas 23:33-43
Esteja sobre tudo o que nossos olhos veem
Esteja sobre tudo o que ouvimos
Esteja sobre nossos corpos que vêm da terra
Esteja sobre nossas almas que vêm do céu
Para sempre e sempre. Amém.
تا میوههای روح را به بار آوریم
تا به ندای مسیح پاسخ دهیم
با اعلام خبر خوش، انجیل صلح
https://youtu.be/VFXAmB_Iq7k
بر هر آنچه چشمانمان میبیند باد
بر هر آنچه میشنویم باد
بر بدنهایمان که از زمین میآیند باد
بر روحهایمان که از آسمان میآیند باد
برای همیشه و همیشه. آمین

