Friday, March 30, 2012

Matthew 26: 52-53

Then Jesus said to him, put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will die by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? NRSV

How many of us are impulsive and let emotions get the better of us? I believe that all of us at some point or the other are guilty of this. Well, Peter has been known as the hot headed one among the twelve, and from the reading of the gospels he also appears to be the most forthright. Despite John being the disciple whom ‘Jesus loved’ Peter had a special place in Jesus’ heart. But here was Peter again ‘running ahead of Jesus’-once again being scolded like a naughty child. But let us dare not point an accusatory finger or gloat. How often have we run ahead of Jesus? We are guilty of doing the same thing. If we sit at the feet of Jesus we cannot do the same thing as the person who doesn’t sit there. We must be grounded and cannot act on emotions. You see, God will take care of everything and Jesus just about told Peter that. Additionally, if we go ahead of God and take things into our own hands, fighting our own battles, using our own carnal methods, the consequences may be painful. Those who take out the sword will die by the sword. Vengeance is God’s. Jesus was ever mindful of the awesome task he was to undertake- that of saving humanity from sin. ‘He could have called ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set him free but he died alone for you and me.’