9 May 2016
The Civil War ended over 150 years ago, but there’s still the
occasional tension that comes up. World
War II ended almost 71 years ago, but we hear about Neo-Nazis, and we might
even still hear some slur against the Japanese or the Jews. Jesus triumphed over evil and death centuries
ago, and yet we still hear of the remnants of evildoing in the world today.
The war is over, and yet the devil refuses to believe it. Maybe this is what Jesus is trying to tell us
when he says, “In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have
conquered the world.” Jesus overcame the
darkness long ago, but it takes a while for the world to catch up. It takes a while for evil and hatred to admit
they’re fighting a battle they have no hope of winning.
In the meantime, as we’re sometimes caught in those lingering
battles between hope and despair, love and fear, charity and hatred, Jesus
gives us words of assurance. He gives us
the gospel, the “good news” that he’s already won the war. So, “take courage,” he says. “Take courage,” be at peace, and live in
hope. The world will catch up in time.
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