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"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life -- the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it ...." I John 1:1-2 (RSV)

"After his resurrection the disciples saw the living Christ, whom they knew to have died, with the eyes of faith (oculata fide)." Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, III, 55, 2 ad 1, as quoted in D. M. Stanley, Jesus in Gethsemane (New York, Paulist Press 1980).

Friday, August 23, 2013

National Repentance - David Flusser

In Jesus' time people had an opinion that calamity and illness were punishments for particular sins of  certain individuals.    Jesus took issue with that and declared that sin is a problem for everyone.   "[T] hose eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, No!  But unless you repent you will all likewise perish."   Luke 13:4-5  (RSV).    David Flusser quotes Luke 13:4-5 and says this about Jesus' call for national repentance:

 Later on, being in Jerusalem he saw the imminent catastrophe as almost inevitable (Luke 19:40-44). The future destruction of Jerusalem could have been avoided, if it had chosen the way of peace and repentance.

 The Sage from Galilee: Rediscovering Jesus’ Genius. By David Flusser and R. Steven Notley. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2007, at page 75.   If the people had repented, how would they have changed the way they lived their lives?   That will be the subject of future posts.
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