Suffering in the World
Hebrews 13:13
“This love of God does not withdraw from reality into noble souls secluded from the world. It experiences and suffers the reality of the world in all its hardness.”
—ETHICS
Jesus fully entered the world with its political intrigue, religious hypocrisy, and social injustice. He was never longing for a secluded religious community. He healed, dined with sinners, proclaimed His message, made friends, caused trouble with the religious leaders, prayed, traveled, and gave hope to the poor. But this simple yet authentic response was too threatening. The world could not tolerate such an existence. It asks for either compromise or death. And because compromise could not be given, death had to be embraced in order to show the worldliness of the world in all its starkest colors. We also cannot simply love in this world. We also will be forced to compromise or to experience rejection.
Meditation
The true nature of the world is seen in its response to true love.
What is your prayer thought for today’s lesson?