I really loved the last session's community reading, so I've decided to post it up here and do a short conclusion after. Here goes:
"How is it that the people who hail Jesus with branches and song as he enters Jerusalem also revile and taunt him a few days later?
They have an idea of what a messiah or a prophet or a king should be. They have decided beforehand what Jesus should do and be for them. It is not Jesus himself they are welcoming to Jerusalem that day, but rather Jesus as a means to bring about their plans and schemes. For them, messiah means power. They have no use for a messiah who is love. Love does not solve their problems in the way they expect power should. Yet perhaps some of them will later repent and rejoice because love himself has forgiven them from the cross as power never will or can.
Who is Jesus for you? Is he a fix-it man whom you accuse when things are not fixed to your satisfaction? Or are you open to welcome him as he chooses to come? Are you so busy looking for him to show his power that you never recognise how he is showing his love?
We are his welcomers, and we are his revilers. May repentance always bring us to welcome him again. And may each new welcoming be more and more enduring."
As Bernard said, God is always giving. He gives so much, and his blessings for us are in abundance. Yet, in spite of all we have received, we continue to ask for more, and God, in His magnificent love, keeps giving.
Must we wait till we lose our gifts before we realise how much we have been given? As Lent comes to a close, let us be more appreciative of the people and things around us. We are so, so blessed, and let's remember that the next time we attempt to blame God for our shortcomings.
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