Forgiveness VIII

As promised yesterday, today I'll look at how Jesus the Wayshower handled the last events of his life, the culmination of a lifetime of betrayals. As I was outlining these last events, I realized they coincide with the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.

I need to say that what I'm offering isn't a prescription for everyone and every situation. Your dharma may vary. As I said earlier, I'm making a personal interpretation, turning these Bible stories over in my hand and watching the light catch at different angles. I hope the process is helpful, at least in inspiring you to find your own story.

Biblical Reference	Summary	Lessons I've Considered
Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prays after sharing a Passover Seder with his closest followers.	The first abandonment: The disciples go to sleep as Jesus prays. He's frightened of the future.	Jesus asks to be spared his worst fears, but bows to Divine will. He prays for his disciples even though they've let him down.
The Arrest. Judas brings the police. Peter cuts off someone's ear. Jesus rebukes Peter and heals the ear.	A personal betrayal. The Gospels seem to do a lot of post-game quarterbacking on Judas. "Always was a thief." "Never liked him." "The Master knew he was bad from the start." Yeah, right. Jesus said, "Hey, you lying thieving betraying scum! I want you for my treasurer!" For Jesus to know the full measure of our experience, I think he had to love and trust Judas before this day's agony. Jesus also declared his policy at this point. He reminded the sword-wielding Peter of the law of karma and said, "I know me and the angel bands could take them. That's not the point." (RC translation of Matt. 26:52)	In deciding your course of action, remember the law of karma: What goes around, comes around. Or, he who lives by the sword dies by the sword. Let your actions reflect who you are, not what they did.
Trials. Jesus goes before the Jewish leaders and then the Roman governor.	Mob rule, mob violence. Being lied about. Being punished not for what you did, but because someone else feels like it. Pilate, exasperated with Jesus' alternating silence and koanish sayings, says, "Do you know what I can do to you?" Jesus replies, "Nothing God doesn't let you."	Though the Gospels aren't necessarily handbooks for effective courtroom behavior, I find Jesus' detachment from the drama useful to realize that what's going on is not what's going on--in a Divine sense. No matter what, look up.
Walk to Golgotha. Beaten almost senseless, the condemned Jesus staggers with his cross. A passerby is drafted to help him.	Abandoned by his followers, Jesus still receives help (though most of us might choose to die on the road).	God doesn't always deliver us. Sometimes we're given help to endure. Endurance is a spiritual quality, at least on the Jewish Tree of Life. Help doesn't have to come from where I think it should. Some people will help; others will offer vinegar to the thirsty.
Crucifixion	Things get worse.	Things can get worse.
	While hanging on the cross, Jesus commends his mother to the care of John. A curious situation, in that brother James should and probably already was taking care of their mother. Yesterday I speculated that the family might have thought Jesus was shirking his responsibilities. But at the end, Jesus told his mother that he did recognize his obligation to her, and he provided for her the best (and only) way he could, John being recorded as the only male relative or friend present.	Take care of earthly concerns the best you can, even if it doesn't meet others' expectations.
	He prays for his abusers.	He already said to pray for your enemies.
	He says, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" This is the beginning of Psalm 22,, a song of the deeply depressed. Through the recounting of his trials, the Psalmist struggles to look to God.	The dark night of the soul comes for us all.
	He comforts another dying man, who is frightened about being judged by God.	Look beyond yourself and make things easier for someone else.
	He says, "Into Thy hands I commend my spirit," and dies.	Put everything in the hands of the Divine. It's not like I had it under control anyway.

And then resurrection into a new being with new possibilities. It's not a tunnel of darkness forever. Just until all the old stuff is good and gone. In the depths of my Gethsemanes, I often forget there's a resurrection waiting to happen .

11:52:48 PM    

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Sunday Politics

Democrats start group to try to 'recall' Bush

No specific candidate, just "anybody but." Right now I'd vote for a dead goat. It would be more responsive to my wishes and make better decisions.

Return of the Killer Ds! Or Texas, My Texas, My Texas

A new set of heroes: Yes, this time it's the Democratic state senators who have fled to prevent DeLay, Perry, Craddick, and company from redistricting Texas to look like a kindergarten fingerpainting, thereby gaining another 6 Republican seats for the House. Through almost 2 special legislative sessions (price: $75 million), eleven senators have been holed up in Albuquerque (I didn't know I could spell that.), despite Gov. Rick Perry slapping huge fines on them and taking away their parking places and cell phone allowances. Surely this contravenes the Geneva Convention?

A special thanks to the man who made it possible: Bill Ratliff, Republican senator from Northeast Texas. Bill doesn't support redistricting. Neither do his constituents. He provided the last, critical signature on the document that took redistricting off the floor. He's rather lonely now, despite a distinguished career of getting everybody to work together, and he's considering retirement, since his goals seem to be out of sync with his party. Can't blame him, but I shudder to think what the Rs might put in his place. Hats off to the man who acts on his conscience! More on the struggle here.
4:16:11 PM    

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Sunday Stuff

Paedophile priest killed in jail

"John Geoghan, a central figure in the Catholic Church's abuse scandal in Boston, was injured in an incident with another inmate at the Souza-Baranowski Correction Center, in Shirley, Massachusetts, according to jail officials. He died shortly after being taken to Leominster Hospital. John Geoghan was believed to have attacked more than 130 children...Spokesman for the Archdiocese of Boston, the Reverend Christopher Coyne, offered prayers for Geoghan's family, and for the repose of his soul."

I offer prayers also for the repose of his 130 victims.

Biggest US church suffers Texan snub

"The largest Christian denomination in the US has been dealt a major blow amid accusations that it has become too right-wing. The Southern Baptist Convention - which numbers President Clinton and Vice-President Al Gore among its members - is losing $5m in funding from its Texas wing, a move seen as paving the way to a possible split. The Texas Baptists voted to snub their parent group after concern at the Southern Baptists' increasingly-conservative stance on issues including women's rights and homosexuality...Jimmy Carter has already split from the Southern Baptists."

This is old news, but I didn't know it. Go, Texas. Go, Jimmy.

Giving away $10 per person, church puts biblical parable of the talents into action

Typical Unity, taking a Bible story as the literal truth. Real fundamentalists. (NOT) The article puts more emphasis on raising money than the church probably did. I've hardly ever seen a fundraising campaign where the primary objective wasn't "energizing the faithful," as the minister put it. As distinguished from energizing their checkbooks.

9:56:39 AM    

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Extreme Forgiveness

More than I could do. God bless them for showing us the way. I found it interesting that one woman felt she "had no choice" but to try to live in peace with the butchers.

New dawn in Rwanda as a nation forgives. John Carlin, in an exclusive report from a country torn by genocide nine years ago, talks to women victims in Nyamata who must now live alongside their tormentors. [Guardian Unlimited]

9:23:01 AM    

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