Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

Murder in the cathedral

Friday, March 16, 2001

Matthew 21:33-46
"When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables, they knew he was talking about them."

Another day, another story. Jesus drives home his point. There is something rotten in Jerusalem. This time the story makes sense to everyone...God puts riches in the world but does not relinquish his claims to them. The "tenants" of the world resist his claims and keep them for themselves, killing anyone who tries to stop them. When God comes himself, the tenants are in big trouble. They can't kill him, hard as they might try.

I try to imagine how desperate I might become to hold on to what seems vital to my happiness. I'm glad there's no gun in my house; I can imagine temptations to use it. I can never make myself or my "fortress" invulnerable. And vulnerability breeds fear which turns to anger, and anger explodes, sometimes killing people.

And besides, being vulnerable is a good thing. The flip (positive) side of vulnerability is openness and sensitivity. Like you, I have two hands. Much of the skin on one of them has grown thicker and dryer and kind of numb over the last year, and when I rub Margaret's feet (yeah, we still do that once in a while!) I do a lot better job with the other one. And it feels a lot better even to me.

If I hold on to what doesn't belong to me I'll lose it anyway. I don't want to become an armored knight, awkward and heavy, barely seeing through my facemask. I would like the owner of the vineyard to think twice about coming back to get me; spring is coming, the tulips and daffodils are breaking through the winter crust, they are going to be beautiful!

O Father, you own the cattle on a thousand hills. I just milked them. What a joy it is to play my part on your stage, and not take any of your responsibilities home with me. This all belongs to you. You are God, and I am not. So be it (Amen).

Devotions Archive

Murder in the cathedral

Friday, March 16, 2001