Let’s face it. Jesus was often nothing short of confusing. Today’s gospel reading is an excellent case in point. Just hours before Jesus was arrested he said to his followers, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” ‘Not a thing,’ they answered. “From now on if you have a backpack, take it, and also a duffel bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.'” But then when the disciples answer, “See, Lord, here are two swords!” Jesus curiously says, “That’s enough.”
Later, while Jesus was being arrested, the disciples cry out, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” One of them doesn’t wait for a response but slices off the high priest’s servant’s ear before Jesus answers, “No more of this! Those who live by the sword will die by the sword.” (This last sentence comes from another gospel’s account of this same story.) Continue reading Discipleship 401
Seeds 