Well, that didn't turn out how I wanted it to! - September 14
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 56, 57, [58]; PM Psalm 64, 65; Job 40:1-24; Acts 15:36-16:5; John 11:55-12:8
Something doesn’t seem right. Have you ever had that feeling deep down that what you are participating in isn’t exactly what you thought it was supposed to be? Maybe the group you have joined has turned into a place for gossip and spreading ill will. Or a church your friend has invited to you seems devoid of hope? Or the party full of nice people turns into something that pushes the boundaries of your comfort zone? I think we walk into what we don’t expect all the time and sometimes it is a little harder to get back out than one might think. Well, that didn’t turn out how I wanted it to!
In the Gospel reading for today, people are going to Jerusalem to prepare for Passover. There is a ritual where the Jewish people would go to the pools to purify themselves as part of the preparation for Passover and a number of other reasons that I will spare you. And it is this background that the Jewish leaders plot to have Jesus arrested. They are using the setting of this day of preparation as a backdrop and chance to illuminate their threat. I bet the people there had no idea what they were getting into!
At a moment when Jesus would come and be cleansed, if he was to follow this practice, is the same moment that his own religious leaders would condemn him. When people are coming for cleaning, the leaders are looking to set someone up. Maybe the Jewish leaders could have expanded their understanding of compassion and forgiveness just a bit. I mean it was a practice for a chance to start over. The irony!
If you follow this story a little longer (we will this week in the Daily office) this story leads into Palm Sunday. When people see Jesus entering the town, they put down their cloaks and sing songs of praise. They aren’t running to the Jewish leaders to say, “Hey, I found your man!” What a response to the Jewish leaders wanting to set him up – taking off what was comfortable to usher in the Christ. Maybe it’s a little bit of a stretch, but when the powers to want an arrest, another group takes off their cloaks, to welcome the person who is to be arrested. I wonder if they knew.
And we find ourselves in situations all the time that don’t make sense and push our level of comfort to new extremes. And we are invited to push back a little bit when something nefarious is afoot. Maybe we are encouraged a little bit to bend the rules. Maybe like these followers outside of Jerusalem who were headed to the baths, we too can have an opportunity to do something different. I wonder too if we will know.
- John+
Questions for Reflection: What are some times when we have been a part of something that you hadn’t planned for? What did you do? How did you respond? What could you have done differently?
Daily Challenge: Being able to respond differently often requires practice. Spend 5 minutes in quiet meditation considering how to respond differently when you find yourself in an unsuspecting situation.