Destroy

Today’s Gospel Text:  But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him, how to destroy him. 15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all, 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: 18 "Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will any one hear his voice in the streets; 20 he will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick, till he brings justice to victory; 21 and in his name will the Gentiles hope." Matt 12:14-21

Reflection: I suppose that there is a difference between killing a person and destroying a person.  The Pharisees did not so much seek to kill but as to destroy Jesus (vs. 14) ( Gk.:.Apollumi = to destroy, annihilate, waste)    

One could kill a person and leave it at that; a mere killing causes death and the person is no more in pain or turmoil.  It is an action that is clear and one track, on target with intent to kill.

The reputation, the name, the lineage, may still remain intact.

But destroying could be a much more serious business and involves much more.

It could involve all sorts of torture with intent to annihilate all that a person is and has.

This could begin with the destruction of the reputation of the person and all that the person holds on to and may have now and may hold in the future, which also includes his lineage (that is, if Jesus were to be married) and may even involve cutting the person off from his roots.  

Hence it could be a process set in place to trouble, torture, persecute, despoil until it may finally leads to physical death or mental derangement, which is worse than mere physical death. 

As far as the law is concerned, there are many aspects of the process of destroying a person which can be beyond the reach of law.

The law may rarely look at the other forms of torture because, many a times, it is difficult to prove such crimes and in the process of being just could be more unjust.

In the gospel, we have the Pharisees taking counsel for the most heinous plot, which we see, could be much more serious than murder.

Such actions on the part of humans were not an isolated event but exists even in our days.

In such situations it would be unfortunate if Christian practice the same crime as the Pharisees, even after having seen such an injustice practiced on the very redeemer of theirs.

Prayer: Lord, be my help so that I may not be an instrument in any way that would bring about the total destruction of anyone.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Preparation

Today’s Gospel Text: Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. Matt 10:17-22

Reflection: On the one hand we speak of preparation and on the other hand Jesus is asking us here not to prepare our defense when we are led before Councils, Governors and kings.

At the outset itself let me tell you plainly: If you have not prepared yourself to meet your God then you will never be led before any Governors, councils and kings in the first place. 

The reason why we would be led before these men of authority is on account of our faithfulness and loyalty to Christ Jesus and his teachings; his teachings are contrary to the values of this world. 

There is no 'what if' here; whether if one is not loyal or faithful. Our point of discussion is not in analyzing those who are not followers of Christ Jesus and could be dragged before these people in authorities

We are only interested in those who are faithful to the teachings of Christ and seek to walk in the footsteps of Christ faithfully and diligently.

When Jesus teaches his disciples not to prepare, he specifically asks his disciples to do so and that too specifically in the area of defense and speech.

This means that their lives should be more a life that is always ready and prepared to meet any eventuality of life, including the persecution that is going to be let loose on them by the spiritual leaders like that of the Synagogue and the political leaders and magistrates of their times.  

This means that whoever claims to be followers of Christ have to face this situation in their life and undergoing such tribulations they will be proving the words of Christ and hence confirming themselves as disciples of Christ.

If we do not see much of these things happenings in our times, it is on account of the universalism and secularization of faith in which many walk including some of the leaders of the new synagogue; the theologians and the heirachy.

Are you prepared to allow Christ to prepare you so as not to prepare yourself or be anxious when brought before those in authority? This is what we all need to seek as true Christians. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to be a true follower of you and carry the flame of faith always high and lifted.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us