28th December

The cross of Jesus seems to be a setback

In a world where men like to be served, Jesus came to serve and he did good without having the attitude of a benefactor who wants to show his superiority. Jesus came as a friend. When he met the Samaritan woman he asks for a service (John 4). He was the friend of the humble and poor.

If Jesus would not have been put into a manger, if he would have been welcomed in a palace, would the shepherds have been able to come and worship him? It is this deprivation which makes him so beloved: we feel that we can approach him. He always remains the same in his patience, his gentleness and his humility.

We can experience setbacks and often because of our own mistake. Here is an example of a scholar who has not worked enough for his exam. However, it is possible that we experience setbacks even though we studied well. There are many kinds of setbacks: job, family, heart ... Who among us has never experienced a setback?

Jesus checks up his visit to humanity by the prophet's tongue: "I have laboured to no purpose, I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing", but he immediately adds: "Yet what is due to me is in the Lord's hand, and my reward is with my God." Here is God's answer: "You may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth." (Isaiah 49, 4 & 6)