Prayer-Soldier Newbie
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Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 1:05 pm Post subject: The Power of Humility and Love |
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The Power of Humility and Love
Scripture:
And the Lord was pleased to bruise him in infirmity: if he shall lay down his life for sin, he shall see a long-lived seed, and the will of the Lord shall be prosperous in his hand. Because his soul has labored, he shall see and be filled: by his knowledge shall this my just servant justify many, and he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:10-11)
Having therefore a great high priest that has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God: let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest, who can not have compassion on our infirmities: but one tempted in all things like as we are, without sin. Let us go therefore with confidence to the throne of grace: that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in seasonable aid. (Hebrews 4:14-16)
And James and John the sons of Zebedee, come to him, saying: Master, we desire that whatsoever we shall ask, you would do it for us: But he said to them: What would you that I should do for you? And they said: Grant to us, that we may sit, one on your right hand, and the other on your left hand, in your glory. And Jesus said to them: You know not what you ask. Can you drink of the chalice that I drink of: or be baptized with the baptism wherewith I am baptized? But they said to him: We can. And Jesus said to them: You shall indeed drink of the chalice that I drink of: and with the baptism wherewith I am baptized, you shall be baptized. But to sit on my right hand, or on my left, is not mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared.
And the ten hearing it, began to be much displeased at James and John. But Jesus calling them, said to them: You know that they who seem to rule over the Gentiles, lord it over them: and their princes have power over them. But it is not so among you: but whosoever will be greater, shall be your minister. And whosoever will be first among you, shall be the servant of all. For the Son of man also is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a redemption for many. (Mark 10:35-45)
Reflection:
What lesson do the people take as their armies vanquish enemies? They do not comprehend that the yield of violence is only to corrupt and destroy. Through it, the wicked or just may prevail in the moment, but it builds nothing. It is but an illusion that violence constructs empires, for while the sword may bring subjugation, it cannot conquer what is in the heart. The just must also remember that though the wicked may be destroyed and their diseases sanitized with fire, the people must take care that they do not become seduced by what they perceive violence will do for them. They must guard that the power of the sword does not blind them to a much greater power, the power of love.
Perhaps it was for this reason the Father sent His Son, the only One who could demonstrate the full meaning of His love, the full power of His goodness and the full blessing of His mercy. Through the One of which the prophet foretold, all who believe in Him are blessed; for though He left Himself powerless before men, He conquered what no army may conquer.
Through the example of Jesus, all may see what He seeks for us to know and that to which the evil one seeks to blind us. Through Him and all He teaches, the blindness which the world sheds upon their hearts may be healed. The Son of God came down from heaven to bring to us the Word and to teach us the great power within it, the blessings of love. It is through love we receive mercy. It is through love we receive forgiveness. It is through love charity is shared. It is through love, we receive His eternal blessings.
Jesus taught us that we should not seek power over one another as people are want to do, but that we should seek to care for one another and minister to one another, for in so doing, we fulfill the second of the greatest of commandments (Matthew 22:36-40). Just as our Lord came to serve, it is by service to one another that we live the example of Jesus.
Some are tempted to view their success by the number of others whom they may oversee or control. Some are tempted to seek positions of leadership for the purpose of prestige rather than consideration of what may be done in service of the flock. They do not comprehend the blessings of humility.
Even those He chose and gathered around Him, He had to help them understand a new way of leadership and a new way of following; a way of humility, encouragement and love. He had to teach them that the gospel could not be spread by decree, intimidation or threat of force; but by example.
History demonstrates, even those armies raised in service to Him, serve but a limited purpose. They are just only when they serve to defend against the violence of the wicked, to liberate the oppressed and to defend the innocent. Though force may vanquish enemies, we must remember no army can coerce decisions of faith, for a conversion by force has no meaning. The only choices with meaning are those made by freewill. It is for this reason He made us such that the mind may be broken by coercion, but not the heart, for He made the heart the vault of our beliefs.
Such a vault may only be opened by the encouragement of love or the subterfuge of evil. This is why the evil one seeks to seduce us with a smile, to blind us with worldly rationalizations and entice us with twisted logic. We must remember, the guile by which the great deceiver approached Adam and Eve. We must also remember, no matter what is presented to us by the one of darkness, the choice of what we keep within our heart is our responsibility.
To protect ourselves and to ensure that what we choose within our hearts that which is right and just, we may pray to Him. We may pray that He will guide us so we are not deceived, so that we may clearly see the path of humility and love. As we choose His path, we will undoubtedly find challenge, but as we believe in Him, He will grant us strength.
May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier
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