The Strength of Love Over Evil

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 7:12 am Post subject: The Strength of Love Over Evil

The Strength of Love Over Evil

Scripture:

Let us therefore lie in wait for the just, because he is not for our turn, and he is contrary to our doings, and upbraids us with transgressions of the law, and divulges against us the sins of our way of life.

Let us see then if his words be true, and let us prove what shall happen to him, and we shall know what his end shall be. For if he be the true son of God, he will defend him, and will deliver him from the hands of his enemies. Let us examine him by outrages and tortures, that we may know his meekness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a most shameful death: for there shall be respect had unto him by his words. (Wisdom 2:12, 17-20)

For where envying and contention is: there is inconstancy and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above, first indeed is chaste, then peaceable, modest, easy to be persuaded, consenting to the good, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, without dissimulation. And the fruit of justice is sown in peace, to them that make peace.

From whence are wars and contentions among you? Are they not hence, from your illicit desires, which war in your members? You covet, and have not: you kill and envy and cannot obtain. You contend and war, and you have not: because you ask not. You ask and receive not: because you ask amiss, that you may consume it on your illicit desires. (James 3:16 ? 4:3)

And departing from thence, they passed through Galilee: and he would not that any man should know it. And he taught his disciples and said to them: The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise again the third day. But they understood not the word: and they were afraid to ask him. And they came to Capharnaum. And when they were in the house, he asked them: What did you treat of in the way? But they held their peace, for in the way they had disputed among themselves, which of them should be the greatest. And sitting down, he called the twelve and said to them: If any man desire to be first, he shall be the last of all and be minister of all. And taking a child, he set him in the midst of them. Whom when he had embraced, he said to them: Whosoever shall receive one such child as this in my name receives me. And whosoever shall receive me receives not me but him that sent me. (Mark 9:30-37)

Reflection:

And so it was in the days past that people conspired against those who were sent by God for the salvation of the people. As the Word was presented to those who conspired, they found discomfort with learning what was truly within them. They found discomfort with leaving behind the temptations which have snared them. They turned against the prophets, shunning them, stoning them, and killing them; for people consumed by evil could not face, nor did they want to purge from themselves the darkness which filled their souls.

Whether than welcoming the One who would bring them to their salvation, some plotted against Him. They plotted to trick Him so that others would not follow His ways. They came together to take advantage of who He was and plotted to use Him to test God. They did not understand the courage with which He stood in front of them or how He would serve the plan of God by turning himself over to them, for they were blinded by their illicit passions.

He did not come to them to vanquish them with violence, but to lead them with love. In the days of old, the armies of His chosen children prevailed as He provided the strength within them; but as they turned to their own illicit designs, they turned from Him and were vanquished by the people who approached them with evil in their hearts. So has it been through the generations, the conflicts of people have been spurred by their illicit ways and the temptations placed before them by the evil one.

He stood before them as they sought to judge Him. Though He could have called legions of angels, He let them expose their evil by what they did. Because of their passions of power, hate and violence, they scourged Him, mocked Him and crucified Him. The crowds were incited by those who feared Him, and many followed in rage for they could not see how they were guided by evil. All who witnessed saw the strength within Him, though He did not raise a hand against His foes. Instead, despite the lies leveled against Him, despite the insults, despite their taunting, despite their tortures and their actions to take His very life; He prayed for them that the Father in heaven may forgive them, for they did not know what they did.

It is not His desire that the children of His creation should destroy themselves through hate, violence and war for His ways are love. So He stood in front of them with love. He stood before them and offered Himself in sacrifice for their sins. He sought to save the people from themselves and the ways which would destroy them. Though all will pass away from this world, if they follow Him, they will find the life of love in the next.

If one desires to walk in the ways of the Lord, they must seek to offer the gifts He has given them for the benefit of others. The faithful must stand with courage to shed light upon the darkness and defend the truth of His Word, not with words of hate and actions of violence, but with the example of their love. The faithful must seek to care for the most defenseless among them. How they receive the least among them is how they receive Him, for all are children of His creation.

He taught those who would seek to be leaders that in the position they sought they should not look to be served by others, rather, they should serve all whom they seek to lead. In leadership, the faithful must set aside pride and accept humility for it is not possible to lead with oppression and be an example of love. Still, as He stood in love, He spoke in firmness to reveal the ways of the sinful and the false prophets; but even to the most sinful among them, He offered forgiveness and salvation if they would turn to Him, confess their belief and live their belief as guided by His Word.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier