By Shiju Joseph, CSC –
Readings: Rom 8:31b-39; Lk 13:31-35
Jesus has a direct unequivocal answer to those who oppose him- that he is not going to be deterred in his ministry. He will not be stopped by those who threaten to kill him, by the family that cajoles him, or by friends who try to persuade him.
It is neither his own longevity nor the length of his ministry that he is concerned about. His only preoccupation is putting into tangible action the love that he has experienced from him Father. His blood boils when others try to persuade him away from it, even if it is for his own life. Yet at the same time, his heart aches when he sees how many times in the history of the people of God they have ignored the love that the Father extended to them and brushed away his interventions as interferences.
He remembers how often the Father tried to gather them all in unity and communion “like a bird gathers her young under her wings.” If only the people had paused to see what God was trying to do with them….. If only the people had let Jesus do what he was entrusted with…. If only we recognize God’s loving interventions in our life for what they are… If only we take the trouble to put into tangible action the love that we continue to experience from our Father without fear and favour…