Friday, March 3, 2023
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
A letter from Jesus
You have heard, “Thou shall not kill.” But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother, calls him worthless or a fool will also be subject to judgment.
So, Jesus says, don’t come to me until you’ve resolved things with your family or friend or business associate or the guy who caused the accident. You can’t go on until you do. Ignoring your own anger results in bitterness, whether or not you come to church. Coming to church might even make it worse. Please don’t eat my body and drink my blood when you are bitter. It’s like what Cain did so long ago. And everything fell fast apart for him – he actually killed the brother he was angry with.
Your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. And you won’t be released until you have paid the last penny.
But, Jesus continues, I won’t leave you alone with this. No doubt you have a complaint, and I want to hear it. Can you talk to me, though, instead of muttering to yourself? And can you tell me what you’re thinking instead of accusing your brother to his face or complaining about him to others?
You know what? Your brother is probably as upset as you are. He shouldn’t be taking communion either. Maybe if you take the lead and come to me, he will too. Please don’t assume that he is evil or bloodthirsty or self-seeking or involved in any other anti-human way of living. I made him too. He is fearfully and wonderfully made, as are you. Can you get that into your head, and keep it there?
You were born as a part of a community, the family of God. But I know that’s hard to remember when you live, and especially die, separately. Protecting yourself seems “natural.” When your brothers and sisters do the same thing, conflict seems inevitable. Why did our Father put you into this predicament?
I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in his word. My soul waits for the Lord more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
This waiting … I waited too, Jesus tells me, first for years and years and then for months and months, days and days, and finally moment by moment. I waited. I chose not to interrupt my waiting with interventions, nor with words of self-defense. Over time I learned to speak my mind only to my Father, and that was a wonderful lesson. I prayed, I wept, I complained, I sought understanding and settled into acceptance. Over and over that was the result of my prayer.
Jesus looks at me with compassion. All any of us has to do is let the brokenness be, inside and out, then wait, watching even if your soul darkens into night. If that’s what happens, count yourself blessed, as all you have left is God. You have to die before you can be resurrected.
If the wicked man turns away from all his sins, if he does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
If this is true (and it is), then resurrection is the result of repentance, even when you might be swindled or condemned or even killed in the meantime. You will not die. So why hate your enemy? He might see you as enemy, but you do not have to see him the same way.
I will be right there with you.
Be merciful as your heavenly father is merciful.
Be compassionate as your heavenly father is compassionate.
Your heart is already broken; leave it that way so we can get in and love you from the inside out. No false bandages covering unhealed wounds. Stay open, and let the healing blow through you, let the Spirit Wind give you new life. And never forget: I and my Father are one.
(Ezekiel 18, Psalm 130, Ezekiel 18, Matthew 5)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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