How to have faith in Jesus, the cornerstone

Friday of the 2nd week of Lent

Matthew 21:33-43,45-46

This 17th day of Lent, it is getting more apparent that every reading is pointing to the effects of sin as well as to Jesus' salvific action.

Joseph being sold to the Ishmaelites prefigured Judas handing over Jesus to the pharisees for some 30 pieces of silver to be unjustly tried and killed.

The end of sin is ultimately death.  It starts with a pleasurable thought, though skewed to please the self and God.  And whatever process it takes, it ends with a violent action against another, belittling human dignity.  Worse, it veers us away from God.

But God is magnanimous than any of the sin combined.  God's judgment in the gospel is not a result of his anger but rather, it is a natural consequences of the effect of sin - alienation, punishment, and death.

Jesus is much higher than any of these.  "They will respect my son" is a key to resolve this malady - Jesus, "the stone rejected by the builders, is the cornerstone", the basis of life, truth, and meaning.  The stories point out to the salvation that Jesus did for us, not based on anger and hatred, but on love.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ngayon isasama kita sa paraiso

Sinambit na ni Kristo ang ikalawang huling salita, "Ngayon isasama kita sa paraiso." Sinabi niya ito sa rurok ng kanyang paghihirap, sa panahong pati ang salaring nasa kanyang kaliwa'y tinutuya siya, "iligtas mo ang iyong sarili pati na kami." Sa krus, nakita pa rin ni Hesus ang dalisay na puso ng kanyang kapwa, "Hindi ka ba nahihiya sa iyong sinabi.  tayo ay nagkasala, ngunit wala siyang kasalanan." Handa na yung isang salarin na siya maparusahan.  Ang tanging kanyang nasambit na lamang ay, "Panginoon, alalahanin mo na lamang ako sa iyong kaharian." May dalawang uri ng pagtugon sa Panginoon.  Yung isa'y nanunuya, nang-iinsulto, sakim, makasarili, namimilit na siya'y iligtas at pagaanin ang buhay, Kahit ang iba'y naghihirap, siya'y hindi. Yaong isa nama'y humigingi ng tawad, mapagkumbaba.  Doon sasabihin ni Hesus, "Ngayon, isasama kita sa paraiso." Yaong isa, naniniwala sa paraisong nilikha ng Diyos noo
Read more

Beatitudes

Search "beatitudes" in the internet and you'll find this definition: a state of supreme happiness. I don't think that there is an event in our lives when we felt "supreme" or "utmost" happiness.  But Jesus tagged beatitudes to the meek and humble, the poor, sorrowing, and persecuted, and not to those who grew rich by luck or hard work, or to the powerful and influential. I think there is more more than outcasting the rich and the powerful and exulting the poor.  After all, who is the really rich and powerful in this world except those who are blessed in the sight of God. The beatitudes teach us a valuable lesson on choosing the real wealth, peace, and happiness.  For even in sorrowing, the Christian is consoled; even in pain the Christian feels peace.  Even in death, the Christian has life. Only God in Christ could give the Christian real and everlasting happiness.
Read more