For all of today’s readings: Click on today’s date at http://www.usccb.org/bible/
All the King’s men
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Second Week of Advent
Matthew 11:12
Jesus said, “From the days of John the Baptist till now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force.”
For everything there’s a season, and sometimes violence is called for. 1500 years after Jesus, Shakespeare put some of his most inspiring lines in the mouth of King Henry V:
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
In peace there’s nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility.
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger …
Now set the teeth and set the nostril wide,
Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit
To his full height! On, on, you noblest English …
Be copy now to men of grosser blood,
And teach them how to war …
There is none of you so mean and base,
That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game’s afoot:
Follow your spirit …
The Bible Jesus read was not the New Testament, but the Hebrew Testament. In this case, to understand his words, it helps a lot to read Micah 2:12-13.
The prophet Micah wrote, “The one who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their King will pass through before them, the Lord at their head.”
Jesus leads his followers through the breach and into the kingdom of heaven. No longer separate, we are finally in fellowship, communion, in union with God. The Trinity welcomes us into its everlasting dance, beautiful and fresh, putting Humpty Dumpty together again. We are whole.
But there is internal and external opposition. Sometimes subtle, sometimes blatantly violent, the battle for my soul and yours is vivid, intense, and most of all, real. And Jesus here, at the beginning of his ministry, offers us his hand and help to enter the breach and move toward heaven.
You put your hand where your words are, Lord. Immediately, without hesitation, you are there for me. Fill me with confidence and free me from fear. The path is cleared by you; let me follow it. Thank you.
* Here’s a great word study on the word “violence” used in Matthew 11: http://www.seedofabraham.net/kingdomv.html
http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1306
