Whom should I Fear?

~~~ Isaiah 42: 1-7 ~~~ Psalm 27 ~~~ John 12: 1-11 ~~~

If you have not yet read yesterday's post please go there and read about Mary, the perfumed oil and the anointing of Jesus.

John's gospel has the setting at the house of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. We are provided much information about Judas the Iscariot and how he betrayed Jesus. Judas had his priorities upside down. Even though he was with Jesus and was witness to many of the miracles he still lost his way. Judas was devoured by material things thinking money was the answer to everything. We have people in our society to day who hold the same principle close to their heart.

But if we pay attention to the news stories or the tabloids the message is clear...money is not the answer to all our ills. The rich man was told be Jesus to sell everything and only then would he be able to follow Jesus. I do not want to be living under a bridge somewhere, but wealth requires more discipline more restraint. If you have wealth you also have a responsibility to use it wisely. Judas missed the message of the Sermon on the Mount; he could not imagine life without his money bag.

Today we have Psalm 27, one of the most familiar of all the psalms. "The Lord is my light and my salvation whom should I fear?" This psalm is one of comfort especially when grieving the death of a loved one. We are in mourning during Holy Week for whom this psalm speaks of, Jesus, Our Lord. We pray this psalm today with conviction, "I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living." We remind ourselves to, "Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord." We know without a doubt that he alone saves us...his day is near. This psalm is a prayer of hope...hope in the promises of the Lord. He will never abandon us...be not afraid.

Isaiah wants us to understand that we too have been called to follow the one who created the heavens. The one who gives breath to you and me. The one who grasps us by the hand and formed us to be a covenant of the people.

You can live up to the task.

Do not be afraid...hold his hand tightly especially in times of doubt.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation."