Someone once said that all the most important things in life you learn in kindergarten. The acts of sharing one's toys and not always getting what you want comes immediately to mind. We simply do not get what we want all the time, not materially or by way of how we would like things to unfold in life.
Take me for example. First on my list today would be that I would not have wanted Trump to be elected the President of the United States. I disagree with almost everything he says and does. His actions and policies do not reflect my personal beliefs for the actions of the USA and his actions as a Christian or even as a human being. It has been and continues to be a roller coaster ride from hell. On a more deeply personal note, I might have preferred to realize and come to terms with being gay long before I turned fifty. I would prefer a world where my sexuality is really a non-issue. Coming out should be nothing more detailed than noting that someone is left handed.
The Apostles today seemed to differ in their opinion of the use of this costly nard (ointment) on Jesus. Clearly Judas Iscariot clearly had his own ideas and thoughts that so troubled him that to get his own way he decided to betray Jesus.
That is the question in today's Scripture passage for us. How do we respond when things do not go our way? In politics and in our personal life, how do we greet disappointment? What do we do when our prayers seemingly go unanswered or we get a resounding answer but not what we had been asking God for?
Someone once approached me about a personal problem that I had no capacity to help with other than to pray. I did however suggest that in addition to prayer, that they seek out a therapist, a professional. I have always firmly believed that we should pray but at the same time do everything that we can practically and lovingly on our own to solve a problem or to achieve our goals. Work hard, pray hard.
We often have to come to terms with things that happen, do not go our way or frustrate the heck out of us. How we respond is a matter of deep faith, what we believe, who we are and who we want to be. Betrayal does not seem like a loving response and history has so judged Judas. Discussions and listening have been a bedrock forever in solving problems. Legal means are available in the secular world if need be. This is what lawsuits are all about. Whining does not work as a rule but love always prevails.
Our responses should always be tempered by love and not selfishness. Maybe think back to what we were taught in kindergarten. Just a thought, your turn.
Matthew 26:1-16
When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ‘You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’
Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and they conspired to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, ‘Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.’
Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, ‘Why this waste? For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor.’ But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, ‘Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.’
Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I betray him to you?’ They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
No comments:
Post a Comment