LIFE beats Strife..
He knew what he must do, and how, and why.
He owned his feelings and desires but yet
would not let them just rule him - rather die
than miss the path that Goodness truly set.
He knew his Father’s will, and too, what way
could help him to live under Fatherhood,
and asked his friends to help him stay awake
and knew the hearts of men weren’t always good,
or else were plain ol’ weak, and lacked the will -
pow’r which derived from love’s creativeness.
So he would have to open up until
no secrets were retained. God would be blessed
by his determined open-ness and truth -
through (under/ “over”)- statements, and “denials”.
But plain ol’ choice to honour any who
through constant choosing to act all the while
such that all glory, honour, and im-mor-
tal-ness, would then come his way just because
he knew creative love & life had more -
excess, and overflowing. There are laws,
or understandings of a person’s ways
which can be quite depended on to grow
us up in bold adventure, we display
some fam’ly style or manner, ’coz we know
within our bones (and DNA), the stuff
of life that is essential to God’s own -
bequeathed to us as gift that is enough
& all that’s necessary. LOVE is HOME!
Background
As his herald later put it:
“Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be grieved and agitated. 38Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” 39And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not what I want but what you want.” 40Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? 41Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. 45Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Now the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Get up, let us be going. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”
47While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. 51Suddenly one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will die by the sword. 53Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” 55At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a rebel? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. (Matthew 26:36-56 NRSVUE)
As his Ambassador (later) explained:
“Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others, for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. 2We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth. 3Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? 4Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6He will repay according to each one’s deeds: 7to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life, 8while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but injustice, there will be wrath and fury. 9There will be affliction and distress for everyone who does evil, both the Jew first and the Greek, 10but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, both THE JEW first and the Greek. 11For God shows no partiality. (Romans 2:1-11)
