What to Tell the King in Case He Wants to Know

As an old time two-kingdom guy, (two-kingdom as in "Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world'"),I recently got a kick out of Luke 13:31-35. Some Pharisees come to Jesus and give him a supposed warning, perhaps just to get a reaction, perhaps to get him out of the area, or, could it be possible, even out of concern for his welfare. The warning: "get away from here, for Harod wants to kill you."

I suppose that sounded plausable. Harod wasn't known for taking kindly to trouble makers and some powerful people saw Jesus as just that. He had John the Baptist executed because of a siily vow to a young dancing girl so it likely wouldn't take much for him to do the same to John's cousin.

Jesus had a beyond clever answer that not only disarmed the informers no matter their motivation, but also went to the heart of his relation to the powers that be as well as his mission and modus aporandi. "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.'"

Whatever personal respect Jesus may have had for the high and mighty he would have the people know that whatever political agenda or security concerns Harod might have they were irrelevant to what Jesus, himself, was up to. Whatever Patriot Acts or wars on terrorists Harod might be waging Jesus wasn't one bit fearful or even thinking of endorsing. That is the typical concern of Kings and Emperors which they will work at it with great bravado. It has nothing, zilch, zero to do with Christ's agenda.

Jesus says, "here is what I have on my plate; this is my what I have scheduled. Today I will be casting out demons and performing cures. That goes for tomorrow too. Oh, and on the day after tomorrow I will be doing it on the way to Jerusalem. To Jerusalem, because that's where prophets like me end up--at the disposal of Herod. So, please tell Herod I may see him around but meantime, his big-time operation of keeping the world safe for Pax Romana I will leave to my Father's discretion while I am simply bringing in a whole new kingdom by giving Satan fits as I overpower his work and by healing some poor people who can't afford medical insurance.

Obviously Jesus did not have anything at stake in the success, failure or even survival of the Roman Empire, nor even of a revival of the state of Israel. Those political entities were not his responsibility. Why should they be ours?

The Way We Were--Two Weeks Ago

After 65 years high school class reunions should not be taken lightly.  Time was when you would go to maybe your 25th or 30th and get a chuckle out of how many surprises there are.  The class mouse is now a coporate CEO and the class beauty an overworked gramma with lines forming from here to there.  But after 65 of those meetings I wouldn't say the chuckles are all gone but they are definitely subdued. 

The meeting is a little more somberuse the only joke anyone can remember is the one about not buying green bananas any more.  In our class we've given up remembering the stupid pranks we used to play or the time five guys skipped school to chase a firetruck to a fire.  Now we tell about knee replacements and how life has changed since cateract surgery or hearing aids. 

There are the usual questions about why so and so isn't here and someone usually knows the real reason they didn't show up.  It probably has something to do about the unit they are on in the nursing home or not being able to keep near enough to the bathroom.  There are always those who refuse to venture out because they aren't as pretty they used to be--or at least thought they were.  As for the rest of us we don't care how lame or decrepit or ugly we have become.  We just want to celebrate something and a good long time on earth seems like a good reason to get together. 

Besides that our lives mean something to each other.  Some of us have experienced 12 very formative years together.  Granted they were some of our most immature years but they all went into the mix that left marks and memories.  And we all surprised each other with our spirit and the way our best qualities have emerged as enduring and worthy.  I mourn those who almost never returned to claim an identity that was a part of the full 42l of us.  And, of course, I mourn those who died very young, one while we were yet Seniors and one the following summer.  I also mourn those who through the years and even quite recently have left us.

At each reunion someone remembers to bring some year books and pictures of those "the way we were" years.  We look at them and recognize that there is something unique and special about friendships that began to long ago and have lasted this long and the people who bother to gather to celebrate them.