Christ Jesus, help me manifest not tyranny and terror, but service and salvation...

 
Jeremiah 18, 18-20 & Matthew 20:17-28
 
“There’s abuse of power and terror all around...!” proclaimed the world to Jeremiah and to us in present day society. Yes, it is true according to the flesh and the devil that our present society is riddled with abuse and terror.  but according to Christians and specifically St. Paul, ‘where sin increased, grace abounded all the more’ ( Romans 5:20). The worldly response to tyranny of any kind is to arrest or even kill the terrorists and to protest the status quo in order to bring about change. Given time and the fallen nature of human-kind, tyranny of all colours and varieties results, precipitating even more terror; and so the cycle self-perpetuates. But as Christians Jesus calls us to a different way: to base our community and societal actions not on power but on service, not on out-terrorizing each other but ultimately on mercy. In this way, no matter how much tyranny and terror are all around us, I am able to live my life humbly as a servant of Jesus reaching out with his mercy to humanity, one person at a time. Will I focus on the terror or the grace of life today? Christ Jesus, help me manifest not tyranny and terror, but service and salvation.   
 
Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. .  (Psalm 31:5)
 
First keep peace within yourself, then you can bring peace to others.
Thomas à Kempis                                                                                                  
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei