Settimana santa

Ha mantenuto i suoi pensieri a sè mentre ha guidato in Gerusalemme su quel giorno pieno di sole all'inizio della celebrazione di Passover. Sarebbe la sua ultima settimana. Ha saputo che ci sarebbe un confronto di un certo genere, ma i risultati sono stati nascosti nei posti scuri da cui la sua mente ha indietreggiato. Ha desiderato che quello con lui era più di l'una donna che ha capito che cosa può scaturire accade.

Peter, James e John lo hanno avuto tutto il male. Lo hanno avuto tutto il male fin dall'inizio. Non hanno capito che il regno del dio completamente è stato opposto agli imperi degli uomini. Non hanno saputo che il regno del dio ha avuto niente a che fare con le riunioni di culto o di Synagogue del tempiale. Hanno attaccato con lui questo lontano perché hanno pensato che stesse andando denominare giù wrath del dio sugli occupanti romani e sull'elite ebrea che hanno cooperato con loro nel oppression della sua gente. Erano aspettano per prendere le loro sedi in una stanza ed in un signore del throne esso eccedenza quelli calpestate dagli eserciti del Messiah.

Erano come i bambini in tanti sensi. Hanno vissuto in un mondo di fantasia degli eserciti ebrei sotto un Messiah del guerriero. Hanno sognato delle battaglie glorious e delle onde delle bandierine di battaglia che fluttuano sotto un sole che non si regolerebbe fino a che non avessero battuto il Romans via dalla terra santa del loro dio. Non lo hanno ottenuto appena.

Quando ha parlato del regno come erbaccia in un giardino bene ordinato, si sono domandati perchè non ha parlato del regno come cedro del Libano. When he spoke of the Kingdom as yeast mixed in flour to make bread, they were dreaming of armies rising up for God. When he spoke of God as a woman looking for a lost coin, they were dreaming of wealth and power that comes through war and victory. When he spoke of God as a mother hen gathering her chicks to herself to protect them from the storm, they thought of storming the gates of Roman cities and conquering them for God. When he spoke of the Kingdom as a group of little children at play, they were plotting who would get the first and second seats of power in God’s Kingdom.

He knew that they would not stay with him. He knew that when they saw what happens to those who oppose both religious and political authorities, they would scatter like pigeons when the fox leaps into their midst. They sought a new order that would be a replica of the old order, an order based on power, domination, exploitation and when necessary war, victory and peace. He understood that they simply were not ready, nor were they willing, to understand that the Kingdom of God happens when people live as he had them live. That is why he kept telling them that the Kingdom of God is here. It has arrived! Look at me! See how we live together! See how we share! See how we heal and bring peace and wholeness to those with whom we eat. This is the Kingdom of God.

He had lived with them and in the heart of the living was the message. But they were looking for something else. They were not looking for a Kingdom based on God’s radical justice which brings utter Shalom, complete peace.

Irony of ironies! He found that aside from the woman who anointed him at Simon the Leper’s house, it was Pilot who really understood the radical nature of his mission and his life. Here at last someone understood what it was all about. Here is someone who understands and also knows that anyone who has an agenda that is so radically opposed to that of Rome must die. Here is someone who understands and who will have him executed for what he always has been: a radically subversive enemy of the Roman Empire and those Jewish religious and political leaders who owe their positions and wealth to Rome.

The God of whom he preaches and of whose Kingdom he lives in and out of is far too dangerous. He must be killed. With any luck his movement will die with him. Surely no group of people, no matter how dedicated, will be willing to continue this Kingdom living after he is gone. He fears that it will all have been in vain because they might think that he’ll come back and “fix it all” for them. He hopes that someday they will understand that whatever he has done they can do…and more.

Then darkness fell.

Author Bio:: Bishop Leland Somers is a semi-retired Old Catholic Bishop whose ministry is as a now and then homilist for Holy Spirit Ecumenical Catholic Church and a teacher and learner of the meaning of discipleship. He believes that only JESUS IS LORD and no other loyalties may come first and this is the only meaningful creed.

for further reading . . .

• None Found