by Jen Aldrich
April 20, 2022
Jesus had a way of taking things that already existed and inviting them into an upgrade. “You’ve heard it said…but I say to you…” You think living the right way means an eye for an eye? Nope. How about turn the other cheek. Or better yet, how about giving him the coat off your back. And walking the extra mile. And paying the inn keeper to make sure the man beaten and left on the side of the road gets the care he needs.
In the wilderness we come face to face with who we really are. Nothing like extenuating circumstances to bring out the best and worst in us. When confronted with a difficult situation, how will we respond? Will we pull out the higher teachings of Jesus, or will we sink to self preservation and survival?
The thing that hit me hard this Holy Week was the realization that at the Last Supper Jesus took his previous teaching to the disciples “love your neighbor as yourself” to the next level: “love one another as I have loved you.” And not just an instruction, but a demonstration. Eat my body, drink my blood, lay down your life. See how I do it?
Time to level up, lovers.
