Even in today's story of betrayal and vengeance in Matthew, the Good News shines. Maybe especially in this story of the Passion. Amidst the details of fear and running away, among the examples of betrayal and disloyalty, right there in the middle of this tale of human brokenness shines our glorious gift of Good News: "...yet not what I want but what you want..." (Matthew 26:39) "...your will be done." (26:41) Humanity takes its proper posture and position in life----God at the center, God as our Navigator and Compass.
In Jesus, we see our Way. In Matthew's gospel we have seen our Way in acts of beautiful and loving compassion, healing, forgiveness, acceptance, and hospitality. We have seen our Way in Jesus in the generous giving of self for others. And here, here in the painful, messy, dark story of the Passion (which certainly echoes the painful, messy, dark moments of our own lives), we see our Way in obedience, submission, and dependence. For many of us, the hardest part of the Way is to recognize that we are not in control, God is. Not only to recognize it, but to live that Truth by taking ourselves out of the center and putting God back in God's rightful place--the center.
"...yet not what I want but what you want..." "...your will be done."
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