Knowledge to Kill or Love

May 11, 2020

Scripture

Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end…. And during supper, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.  (John 13:2-5 NRSV)

Knowledge to Kill or Love

Last week a friend said something like “actions demonstrate patrimony”, and recently I’ve seen its truth played out in two very different ways.

We’ve been watching the Stratford Festival’s filmed series of plays performed on the festival stage. This past three weeks have focussed on leaders whose out-of-control egos wreaked havoc on them and their areas of leadership. The cherry on top was Macbeth.

Macbeth sees some “weird sisters” stirring a steaming pot and predicting he will become king of Scotland. He fully embraces the idea and his only strategy is to kill the current king, not wait for some series of events to unfold peacefully.

The actor who played Lady Macbeth said that after a speech in which she invoked those same spirits of murder she had to say a prayer of blessing as she came out of the moment, it was so powerfully evil. Both Macbeths got what they wanted with their inside knowledge and destroyed themselves and their kingdom in the process.

Yesterday I was meditating on Jesus’ self-knowledge and how different his response was. His patrimony was a loving Father and Macbeth’s was an evil spirit. To be continued next week.

A Prayer for Today

God of love and kindness, I ask for demonstration of your patrimony in my life. I can so easily understand situations and instead of loving, take unfair and destructive advantage. Your son knew clearly that he had your affirmation and authority but used to it to love, not destroy. Help me do the same…. For Jesus’ sake