LIFE beats Strife

---

(First-Draft-Audio, song with piano)

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 will 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,

no (under/ over)- statements, nor denials.

But plain ol’ choice to honour any who

through constant choosing to act all the while

such that all glory, honour, and immor-

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’s our home!

---

Background

As his herald later put it:

[36] 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.” [37] He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be grieved and agitated. [38] Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” [39] And 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.” [40] Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? [41] Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” [42] Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” [43] Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. [44] So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. [45] Then 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. [46] Get up, let us be going. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”  [47] 

While 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. [48] Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” [49] At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. [50] Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. [51] Suddenly 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. [52] Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will die by the sword. [53] Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? [54] But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” [55] At 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. [56] But 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. [2] We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth. [3] Do 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? [4] Or 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? [5] But 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. [6] He will repay according to each one’s deeds: [7] to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life, [8] while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but injustice, there will be wrath and fury. [9] There will be affliction and distress for everyone who does evil, both the Jew first and the Greek, [10] but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, both THE JEW first and the Greek. [11] For God shows no partiality. (Romans 2:1-11)

---

---