Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

 Lectionary: 364

The love of Christ impels us,
once we have come to the conviction that one died for all;
therefore, all have died.
He indeed died for all,
so that those who live might no longer live for themselves
but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Before the advent of antiseptics and anesthesia, I have read that a wounded warrior was the most dangerous. Watching other men die had told him his injury would soon become painful to the point of disabling, and infections would certainly kill him. Angry, desperate, and convinced of his cause, with time running out, he would use his remaining strength and energy to kill and maim as many as he could. If he were fortunate his own comrades might kill him to spare him further suffering, possible capture, torture, and humiliation. In any case, he would not survive. 

We who have died in Christ might also consider we have nothing left to lose. We have given everything to the Lord who died. In that sense, we have died with him. So why would we hold back, since our time is limited; and our energies, failing? What have we got to lose?

Obedient to the one who owned nothing, we own nothing. With our hearts in thrall to a humble God who would not be shamed even as he hung naked, helpless, unloved, and alone on the cross, can we fear humiliation? 

There is dignity in following the Lord, but it comes not from our standing among others or our right to respect, fairness, and justice. If the Lord forfeited those things, so have we. 

We have seen him surrendering things like the right to respect even before he died. I think especially of his standing by the woman caught in adultery. (John 8) He might have walked away. He might have ignored the woman, her plight, and her accusers. Lesser men have scorned similar opportunities and retained their social standing. He could have said, "Why should I care what you do with this disgusting woman?" 

But he not only stood by her; he stooped down to the ground and began to scribble like a child in the dirt. Twice! His word nailed them; and he gave it time to humiliate them; but he did not oppose them. He was just as helpless as the woman; and because he would not condemn her he became guilty with her. 

He had nothing to lose by squatting down beside her because he had already surrendered everything to Another. We are called to do likewise. 

He indeed died for all,

so that those who live might no longer live for themselves

but for him who for their sake died and was raised.