LIVING IN PEACE

 

LIVING IN PEACE

Today=we have ANOTHER one

Of Jesus' parables=and it is

A FORESHADOWING=of his

Own life and death

It is the parable

Of the WRETCHED TENANTS

It is about a landowner=

Who plants a VINEYARD

And RENTS the vineyard out

To some farmers

WHEN the time comes=

To collect the rent=they beat one=

Kill one=and STONE the other

“But the TENANTS=seized

The servants=and one they beat=

Another they killed=

And a third they stoned” Matthew 21:35

Then the OWNER sent some other

Servants=and the tenants

Treated them-the SAME WAY

Finally=he sends his SON=

Figuring they will RESPECT HIM=

But they took him=

Threw out of the vineyard

And killed him

FINALLY=the FATHER

Has to come himself=and bring them

To a “WRETCHED END”

This parable PREFIGURES

The brutal death of Jesus=

He always TURNED the other cheek

But Jesus felt

The EFECTS of human violence

And harsh REJECTION=

Long before the crucifixion

He received hostile threats=

Sarcastic barbs and verbal taunts

From many

Jesus EXPERIENCED the violence

Of many=yet he did NOT

RESPOND the same way

He always responded NONVIOLENTLY=

He was always

LINING IN PEACE

LIVING IN PEACE!=living with love

Jesus talked the talk

And WALKED the walk

Of peace and nonviolence

“Turn form evil=and do good=

Seek PEACE=and pursue it” Psalm 34:14

“You will keep

IN PERFECT PEACE=

Those whose minds

Are steadfast

Because they trust in you” Isaiah 26:3

“PEACE I leave with you=

My PEACE I give you

I do not give to you

As the world gives=

Do not=let your hearts

BE TROUBLED-

And do not be afraid” John 14:27

When Peter=sliced off

A man's ear once=in order

To PROTECT Jesus

Jesus INSISTED that Peter

Put his sword away

And he HEALED

The man's ear

LIVING IN PEACE!

We too=If we are

True Christians=must put AWAY

All thoughts of revenge

We MUST LIVE in love

And PEACE=and NOT out of

Hatred or revenge

In the names of Jesus=and of our EVER PEACEFUL HOLY FATHER GOD!

Robert P. Wallman

3-2-2021

Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sr. Joyce Rupp, O.S.M.