I
don’t understand why we have to wear each other out with war before we sit own
to talk peace. We rejoice in the Colombian peace after 42 years of war and
death but why were those 42 years of suffering necessary? What could they not
see years ago that they see now?
It
is the same in my country of origin. In Ireland we had 700 years of alienation
and bitterness before the two sides could sit down and come up with an
agreement. And there are parts of the island where things are still not fully
settled. It seems we HAVE TO suffer in order to come to an awakening about a
new horizon to our lives.
Jesus
“had to” (Luke 24;26) if he was to fulfil the work he was given by the Father.
There was no other way. He entered into human experience from the soles of his
feet to the crown of his head. He was totally immersed in the issues of his
time and his immersion brought him conflict. We have hardly opened the pages of
the gospel before we have a taste of opposition. He announced the kingdom but they
wouldn’t listen. Instead they used force. He could have run away but he
absorbed that force in his own body. It crushed him, of course, but it could
not destroy him. Because of who he was he came through all that and appeared
before them in the upper room.
They
were dumbfounded (Luke 24:41) and battled to understand what was going on. It
may take 42 years or 700 but the human spirit comes through. And so it will be
in Zimbabwe. People don’t listen and so the suffering goes on. Force is used.
People die. But people do not give up. They can’t. It is impossible. Human
beings have a spring inside that always bounces back.
The
‘prodigal’ son, whose only thought was to enjoy life, had to suffer if his eyes
were to be opened. They were, and the joy of opening them far outweighed the
suffering he had endured. The satisfaction and joy in Colombia and Ireland – to
take just two examples – is so great that people are willing to forget and
forgive years of suffering. And so it will be in Zimbabwe.
The
guys who built themselves a golden calf in the desert wanted instant
satisfaction. They could not tolerate the long haul Moses told them was needed
if they were to graduate as the people of God. When I first came to this
country there were few shops and loads of factories. Now there are few
factories and loads of shops. We are enjoying instant satisfaction but there
are no roots to it. One day people will have to get down to productive work. No
sweat no sweet!
11 September 2016 Sunday
24 C
Exodus 32:7-14 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-32
