Hi everyone,
So I had my boys at church today, which I’m pleased to say is becoming more of a regular thing. I like it when my kids are at church with me, even though I can tell they are bored to tears and want nothing more than to bust loose and run up and down the aisles (which they actually do from time to time). And even better that today it was their idea to come with me. Sure, I slept way past my alarm this morning, but they were right up with me and we got to church with plenty of time to spare (if you consider 25 minutes plenty of time).
They also enjoy the goodies after church (but then again, who doesn’t?). They like the juice that is there, the cookies, the baking, the chance to bust loose and run up and down the aisles without getting a frown from the pastor… and today one of my sons surprised me around the goodie table. Well, maybe not surprised per se, as it was fully in character for him, but I didn’t expect my reaction to what he did.
He had a sugar cube in a spoon and he asked me if he could eat it.
W-w-w-what? A straight up sugar cube will make you go nuts, man (more so than you already are). No way you can have one! He was sad, but understood. (He later asked if he could have one after everyone had left…)
Then I remembered when I was around his age, I used to sneak sugar cubes into Sunday School all the time. To me and my friends, they were “energon cubes” (that’s a real thing, look it up).
So I guess it is true what they say, the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree….
Here are the readings for the Sunday of the Passion:
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
Mark 15:1-39
“Truly this man was God’s Son!”
Why did the centurion come to this conclusion? How? What was it about Jesus’ death that made him think that without a doubt Jesus was exactly who he said he was?
The death seemed ordinary enough. Well, ordinary enough when it comes to a crucifixion, which is extremely slow and painfully. Jesus was treated like any other criminal sentenced to crucifixion would have been treated, as in he was mocked, spit upon, and seen as part of the worst humanity has to offer.
But even in all of that, Jesus remained calm. He remained humble. He remained faithful. As people hurled insults at him and tried to make a suffering man suffer even more, Jesus just took it, and even went as far as to forgive them. It takes a lot of anger and hatred to want someone to be dead. It takes a lot of wrath and ill-will to rejoice in the suffering of another. It takes a lot of evil to regard another human being as unworthy of life.
Jesus didn’t lash back. Jesus didn’t deflect the mockery. Jesus didn’t even bat an eye to the injustices that he was facing. Rather he took them, accepted them, and with the love that threw the stars into the sky and filled the oceans with water, he forgave them.
Truly, Jesus is God’s Son.
God’s peace be with you all throughout this week.