Prayer-Soldier Newbie
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Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 7:08 am Post subject: Let Us Rejoice |
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Let Us Rejoice
Scripture:
And when they drew nigh to Jerusalem and were come to Bethphage, unto mount Olivet, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them: Go into the village that is over against you: and immediately you shall find an ass tied and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to me. And if any man shall say anything to you, say that the Lord has need of them. And forthwith he will let them go. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: Tell the daughter of Sion: Behold your king comes to you, meek and sitting upon an ass and a colt, the foal of her that is used to the yoke. And the disciples going, did as Jesus commanded them. And they brought the ass and the colt and laid their garments upon them and made him sit thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way: and others cut boughs from the trees and strewed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before and that followed cried, saying: Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, the whole city was moved, saying: Who is this? And the people said: This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee. (Matthew 21:1-21)
The Lord has given me a learned tongue, that I should know how to uphold by word him that is weary: he wakens in the morning, in the morning he wakens my ear, that I may hear him as a master. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I do not resist: I have not gone back. I have given my body to the strikers, and my cheeks to them that plucked them: I have not turned away my face from them that rebuked me, and spit upon me. The Lord God is my helper, therefore am I not confounded: therefore have I set my face as a most hard rock, and I know that I shall not be confounded. (Isaiah 50:4-7)
Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. For which cause, God also has exalted him and has given him a name which is above all names: That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11)
And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying: Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus said to him: You say it. And when he was accused by the chief priests and ancients, he answered nothing. Then Pilate said to him: Do you not hear how great testimonies they allege against you? And he answered him to never a word, so that the governor wondered exceedingly.
Now upon the solemn day the governor was accustomed to release to the people one prisoner, whom they would. And he had then a notorious prisoner that was called Barabbas. They therefore being gathered together, Pilate said: Whom will you that I release to You: Barabbas, or Jesus that is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. And as he was sitting in the place of judgment, his wife sent to him, saying: Have nothing to do with that just man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and ancients persuaded the people that they should ask Barabbas and make Jesus away. And the governor answering, said to them: Whether will you of the two to be released unto you? But they said: Barabbas. Pilate said to them: What shall I do then with Jesus that is called Christ? They say all: Let him be crucified. The governor said to them: Why, what evil has he done? But they cried out the more, saying: Let him be crucified.
And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, taking water washed his hands before the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man. Look you to it. And the whole people answering, said: His blood be upon us and upon our children. Then he released to them Barabbas: and having scourged Jesus, delivered him unto them to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor, taking Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto him the whole band. And stripping him, they put a scarlet cloak about him. And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And bowing the knee before him, they mocked him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews. And spitting upon him, they took the reed and struck his head. And after they had mocked him, they took off the cloak from him and put on him his own garments and led him away to crucify him.
And going out, they found a man of Cyrene, named Simon: him they forced to take up his cross. And they came to the place that is called Golgotha, which is the place of Calvary. And they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall. And when he had tasted, he would not drink. And after they had crucified him, they divided his garments, casting lots; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: They divided my garments among them; and upon my vesture they cast lots. And they sat and watched him. And they put over his head his cause written: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Then were crucified with him two thieves: one on the right hand and one on the left. And they that passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, and saying: Vah, you that destroy the temple of God and in three days do rebuild it: save your own self. If you be the Son of God, come down from the cross. In like manner also the chief priests, with the scribes and ancients, mocking said: He saved others: himself he cannot save. If he be the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross: and we will believe him. He trusted in God: let him now deliver him if he will have him. For he said: I am the Son of God.
And the selfsame thing the thieves also that were crucified with him reproached him with. Now from the sixth hour, there was darkness over the whole earth, until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying: Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani? That is, My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? And some that stood there and heard said: This man calls Elias. And immediately one of them running took a sponge and filled it with vinegar and put it on a reed and gave him to drink. And the others said: Let be. Let us see whether Elias will come to deliver him. And Jesus again crying with a loud voice, yielded up the Spirit.
And behold the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top even to the bottom: and the earth quaked and the rocks were rent. And the graves were opened: and many bodies of the saints that had slept arose, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, came into the holy city and appeared to many. Now the centurion and they that were with him watching Jesus, having seen the earthquake and the things that were done, were sore afraid, saying: Indeed this was the Son of God. (Matthew 27:11-54)
Reflection:
Can we profess to have a learned tongue; one which can tell all which is true? Our parents and family have taught us. We have attended various schools. We have learned through strangers and friends. We have learned through the blessings and hard knocks of life, but what do we truly know and what will others accept of our knowledge?
We must confess, we are limited in what we believe to know and what we assume we understand. Even the most learned scientists of the world are limited in what they observe, what they interpret, and what they comprehend. They peer into the mechanics of the designs of God, but while they look beneath the weeds, they fail to find the depths of what He seeks for us to comprehend. They interpret the information they gather. They seek to connect the dots, but there is so much missing from their study such that their conclusions continuously reference the need that more research is required. What they find is that what they believe they know only opens the door to many more questions. Too often, they discover their data was incomplete and from what they observed, they interpreted incorrectly. What they saw as truth, they later discovered to be incorrect. At times, their pride prevents them from turning from what was false.
From what they studied, they established themselves as the authority. By strength of numbers, they determined they could vote the truth. With no authority over them, they were unable to see that the one who might be correct was assumed to be wrong by those who set themselves in seats of judgment. No matter how many people believe to be true that which is false; what is false, remains false.
To whom, then, can we turn to discover all which we need to know? To whom can we turn to find the definitive truth of our meaning and our existence? Our living is not a mere matter of curiosity, but one of eternal survival. What, then, do we need to know so that we might live as our Creator desires?
Perhaps our life only requires a little knowledge; the basics, but is that enough? If our focus is only upon the short time we wander the earth, perhaps that is all we need, but then, what we dismiss in that decision is what will become of our eternal soul? Who can answer this question for us, but our Creator, the One who set the purpose for our life, not only for this world, but for the eternity to come. This is the knowledge we must seek, not just the mechanics of living, but our eternal meaning and purpose.
To reveal to us what we must know for the salvation of our soul, God sent His angels and His prophets, but too many fail to listen. To reach all the children of His creation, God sent His only begotten Son. Crowds came to Him so that they could hear the Word made flesh. (John 1:14) Though all the knowledge of the Creator was within Him, still, many turned away because they did not know, they did not believe, they did not comprehend the wisdom which He offers.
We might wonder, for what purpose did God come to us as man? Why would He humble himself so and assume such a frail and mortal form? In His divine form, what army can stand against Him, but as a single and humble servant, we might wonder how could He hope to prevail over even the smallest team of soldiers? Perhaps He cast off the mass of power by which He created the universe so that we might learn of an even greater power, that of the blessings of His love; the love which we may all share.
He came to walk among us so He might teach and we might learn. He needed no army, for even in human form, those who stood against Him found themselves confused and uncertain as to what might come as they set their schemes. Those who did not recognize who He was or the purpose for which He was sent by the Father, found themselves driven, yet hesitant and unsure of their steps. They huddled within their darkness where they could scheme, plan, plot, and muster their nerve.
They mocked Him, for they did not believe in His divinity. They did not comprehend that the Heavenly Father sent Him not only as the King of the Jews, but as the King of all the children of His creation. They scourged Him and witnessed the fulfillment of many prophecies through Him, but so many were blind to what they saw. So many could not see the injustice playing out before them. Many others simply did not wish to see. Blinded by the frenzy of the mob, they, too, taunted and jeered.
We might wonder, if we were back in the moments of the past, with whom may we have stood? Would we be among those who cheered His entry into Jerusalem? Would we be among those who chanted to crucify Him? In hindsight, we might be tempted to believe we would stand with Him, but, perhaps, we might find the truth to the answer should we examine where we stand today. Before we profess that we would be within the throngs who rejoiced at His coming, we should examine the evidence produced by what we do and what we fail to do.
His desire is that we follow Him and live according to the blessings of His Word. In so doing, we open the opportunity for us to live in peace and with the blessings of love. Let us, then, turn to Him in prayer and ask for Him to guide our hearts. Let us rejoice in the presence of His love and the love which we may share.
Questions for further reflection:
In what ways may we gather knowledge about our existence within the world and the time to come?
In what ways may we discern His truth so we may know with whom we should walk and to whom we should minister?
What does the sacrifice of the Son of God mean to us?
May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier
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