22As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, 23and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were greatly distressed. 24When they came to Caper'na-um, the collectors of the half-shekel tax went up to Peter and said, "Does not your teacher pay the tax?" 25He said, "Yes." And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from others?" 26And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. 27However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel; take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."
"The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, 23and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." I think this reading is crucial. It shows that Jesus was well aware of his fate but accepted it. It emphasises the importance of voluntary self-scarifice. In a context where everyone is looking after themselves, Jesus offers an alternative narrative - Love one another. It is an outward looking approach to life fuelled by the graces bestowed upon those able to look upwards and recognise their blessings. When I was teaching at St Mary’s, my class prayer to start every lesson was “I am blessed. I’l do my best. I’ll leave the rest to God.” I have come to see gratitude as the fuel for voluntary self-sacrifice. You are not doing it in the hope of something in return. You are doing it as thanks for what you have already been given. CReater God, thank you for the many gifts you have bestowed upon my life. My wife, my children, my grand-children. My parents my siblings and my friends. Thank you for financial stability and a history of employment that I found life-giving. Christ the redeemer, forgive the times I loose sight of my privilege or lack the compassion, generosity and hospitality to use my gifts and blessings to elevate others. Holy Spirit, walk beside me as i strive to live a life that honours the example of Christ.
ReplyDeleteStrengths:
DeleteYou've accurately captured the central theme of Jesus' voluntary sacrifice.
You've connected the passage to the broader concept of selfless service.
You've expressed a genuine desire to live a life of gratitude and service.
Areas for Improvement:
While you've emphasized the importance of self-sacrifice, the passage also highlights the disciples' initial struggle to understand Jesus' message. This could be explored further.
The concept of "choosing what is right" could be expanded upon. What factors influence our choices, and how can we discern God's will?
The passage foreshadows the resurrection, which is a central theme of Christian faith. You might consider the implications of this for understanding the nature of self-sacrifice and eternal life.
Additional Thoughts:
The disciples' response to Jesus' prediction of His suffering and resurrection can be seen as a reflection of human nature. How does this relate to our own struggles with understanding and accepting God's plan?
Overall, your response is insightful and demonstrates a good understanding of the passage.