Friars Corner: Christ brought many into the Kingdom of God through his suffering
Isaiah 53:10-11; Ps 33:4-5, 18-2, 22; Heb 4:14-16; Mark 10:42-45
Holy Spirit, please give us your broader vision.
The life of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, is very beautiful and complicated. After creating all things God created human life. Our first parents disobeyed the one directive God required of them. They fell to the lie of satan and lost the exalted position in Eden. All their ancestry inherited their fallen state. Thus we have a wounded human nature that doesn’t do always what is best and what God wants of us.
No human person could correct the mistake. God eventually sent his Son. He took on our human nature in its perfect form. In his human estate to spoke to us clearly and showed us God’s plan. He healed, fed and taught thousands in his public life on earth. Jesus trained and equipped 120 men and women to continue his work. He did not want these leaders to lord it over others, as worldly leaders tend to do. He taught us that greatness was in service to others as Jesus washed the feet of the twelve at the Last Supper.
In St. Mark’s gospel section today, Jesus told his disciples that he came to serve and give his life to take the punishment for our sins by his bloody suffering and final death on the cross. God showed us that he accepted the ultimate sacrifice of his Son by raising his body from the dead, glorified in radiant light. He opened the gates of heaven and invited us to come into his new kingdom of service by our repentance for our sins and baptism. As we accept this free gift of God we also will endure some suffering as we die to our old worldly way of doing things. The Holy Spirit enlightens our minds to show us God’s plan for doing things. It is as if the Holy Spirit updates our computer operating system by adding something much greater than Windows 10. As we work at following these new God-given directives we are guaranteed a place with Jesus in eternal life in heaven.
The operations of God’s kingdom found in the New Testament scriptures and church tradition are much different that the operating system of the world and what it considers "political correctness." Let us daily strive to get closer to Jesus so we can joyfully serve others as the light and hands of Jesus working in the world around us. May Jesus give us all the graces we need to do that this week and the rest of our lives.
Blessings,
+ Fr. Bob Hilz
(© 2015 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)
