Evening Prayer 3-5-11

Reading: 
John 12:1-19

"You see that you are gaining nothing.  Look, the world has gone after him."

As Jesus prepares for the Passover He is attending a meal with Mary, Martha and Lazarus.  Many are trying to push their way into the place to see if Lazarus was really raised from the dead.  It states that many people believed because of this.  Then it is on to Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.  This time He is greeted with loud Hosannas and praise from the people as He rides into the Holy City. 

The people are at times following Him because of miracles that He performs.  Often times is this not the case that people are looking for a "miracle".  They want to see the face of Jesus in a piece of toast, or the Blessed Virgin in the tree.  All of these things they look for to try to stimulate their faith.  When they are looking for these "physical" miracles, they miss out on the miracle that really matters.

The miracle that really matters is the one where God takes flesh upon Himself and goes to a cross to die for His people.  This is not as exciting as Jesus in piece of toast.  It is certainly a lot less offensive then seeing God nailed to a cross.  However, Jesus in a piece of toast does not save you.  Jesus, God in the Flesh on the cross shedding His perfect blood for you, that is priceless.  This is the miracle that is applied to your life in Holy Baptism where God takes off your filthy rags of self righteousness and changes them for the beautiful garment of Christ's righteousness that He gives you.  This miracle is brought to fruition under the veil of bread and wine where you eat and drink the precious Body and Blood of Jesus.  The real miracle is everytime that the Word of God is proclaimed and a sinner if called to believe in Jesus as His Lord and Savior.

But we often look in the wrong place.  When we stay in God's Word and participate in the Sacraments we partake of the greatest miracle.  This miracle then changes our lives so that others can see that we have been with Jesus and glorify our Father in heaven.  It is when the Church, acts like the Church by preaching the Word and administering the Sacraments that people will say ," look, the world has gone after him."  Amen.