April 21
Fourth Sunday of Easter
“The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.”
Readings
Reflection
What does one who saves look like? We often think of the act of saving as requiring a weapon in order to ward off a foe. In this way of thinking, the savior wields power arising from his use of force against evil. So why did many people not believe who Jesus was?
It is important for us to realize that many of the people Jesus is encountering are looking for a military type of Messiah because an earthly enemy has overrun them. Many of these people have had their homes and property taken away.
Jesus, however, was not a mighty warrior who presents his power through an array of military force in order to restore earthly justice, but is gentle. He continually teaches and encourages those around him so they would receive the power of knowledge and therefore the gift of salvation, perhaps not from earthly forces, but certainly from the power of sin! These people are not thinking of heavenly glory, but of earthly revenge and restitution. The enemies of Jesus hunted him down, hung him naked on a tree and left him there to die in apparent shame. Many people did not see this as an action a Messiah would undertake.
So, where do we fit in? Do we find ourselves focused on earthly possessions and concerns? Have we turned our eyes of faith toward the heavenly realm? If we focus more on our earthly life here, perhaps this Easter Season of glory can help us begin to focus on the real reason God the Father sent his only begotten Son to Earth, namely, to save us for the kingdom to come!
God Bless you and Happy Easter!
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