Justin Appel

Dear Friends,

Today’s Gospel lesson from Luke tells us about Jesus, who as a prisoner of Pilate, was brought before Herod for judgement.

In this episode, Jesus demonstrates exactly what he had already taught his disciples earlier while sitting above to the lake in Galilee. Pilate already asked him pointedly, “Are you the king of the Jews?” To this Jesus simply says, “You say so.” Later, as Herod, the governor of Galilee, asked Jesus more questions, Jesus made no reply whatever.

“Blessed are you,” said Jesus to his disciples, “when men revile you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven…”

This teaching flies in the face of our society’s norms. We are taught to justify ourselves and even to take revenge on those who accuse us falsely.

But Jesus teaches a way of life so completely focused on union with God that it sounds crazy to our ears: be poor in spirit, mourn, be meek, be hungry and thirsty for righteousness, be merciful, be pure in heart. He even teaches that being persecuted for righteousness’ sake is a blessed state.

What does this even look like? Probably not recognizable, either as brash over-certainty or vigorous activism, neither as suavity nor erudition. Being “blessed” according to Jesus might look more like being a holy fool—that is, someone who embraces their calling to holiness so completely that their actions appear absurd to the broader culture. To whom shall we look for examples to emulate? The question is worth pondering.

Yours in Christ,

—Justin