The Way of Love

The Gospel of Luke gives us a picture of Jesus on the cross. The religious leaders scoffed: “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God!” One of the soldiers called out: “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” And later, one of the criminals derides him, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

The irony is that by accepting the way of the cross – saving is exactly what he is doing.

Imagine, just for a minute, if Jesus had come differently. What if Jesus had come with an army and marched on Jerusalem? What if he had come in and cleaned house and crushed the Romans? If what we claim about Jesus is true – that he is Son of the Almighty God – Creator of all that is – there’s no doubt he could have done it. Can you imagine? Dad, how about a lightning bolt?

But what would that have said about God? If violence and sheer force were the ways of the Lord, what would that mean for us? If Jesus had taught that vengeance and domination are the way to make the world a better place, how would we live? How would the early Christian way of life be any different from the ways of the Roman Empire – which ruled by force? How would Jesus as savior and king have been any different than Caesar as savior and king?

What we see instead, is a vastly different picture. Jesus shows us that the way of God is forgiveness; the way of God is humility; the way of God is the way of love. I don’t know about you, but I am grateful God approaches us in this manner.

Let us pray for the grace to follow Jesus as he leads us in this way.

Let us pray: Almighty God, we thank you that your power and might move in the ways of love. Grant us open minds and teachable hearts; in Jesus’ name. Amen.