Jesus’ Ministry
March 1, 2019
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2
Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.
–2 Corinthians 4:1-2
I turned on the TV to listen to the noon news only to discover that the station was live streaming Michael Cohen’s testimony before a Congressional Committee. I watched it for a while. Some of the members of Congress seemed more interested in ascertaining why they should believe him now when they had called him back because he was convicted of lying to them previously. He tried to tell them that he was trying hard now not to practice cunning or falsehood. Of course, some will never believe him again, it is not in some of the questioners’ interest to believe him now, and some will only believe him if he has corroborating evidence. Sir Walter Scott perhaps states it best, Oh! What A Tangled Web We Weave When First We Practice To Deceive*.
My hope is that Mr. Cohen takes the opportunity to learn about Chuck Colson who got caught in political scandal in the Nixon Watergate Case and ended up in prison. Mr. Colson who died in 2012, turned his life around and became a strong advocate for Restorative Justice which he experienced himself through the forgiveness of a loving God.
Paul comes by a very different approach to understanding those who practice cunning and falsehood. He spent much of his ministry in and out of prison for crimes he did not commit and for telling the truth of Jesus Christ that some did not want shared. He was advocating for a man who was crucified for crimes he did not commit who was the embodiment of truth and light. Jesus Christ and Paul both surely had special places in their hearts for people lost in the web of deceit with who they shared a prison room or a cross. They both worked very hard to help all those whom they encountered be restored to wholeness. We are called to do the same for not only the oppressed who have done no wrong but also to those whose lives have been woven with deceit and need help breaking free from that web.
Prayer: Lord, guide us to free ourselves from deceit and to be conduits of your love to others trying to free themselves from it. Amen.
*From the poem Marmion by Sir Walter Scott see at https://www.enotes.com/topics/marmion/quotes/oh-what-tangled-web-we-weave-when-first-we