DECEMBER 5 - DAY 7
Jude 16-25
Catherine Kroeger
Redeeming the Obnoxious
The young mother-to-be exulted in the transforming power of God’s grace: the lowly raised up, the hungry filled, the powerless empowered. Three of her sons were to voice that same concern for the humble and despised. Though at first those listed as Jesus’ brothers (Mt. 13:55; Mark 6:3) were not in sympathy with His mission (Mark 3:21), in time they became stout followers (Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 9:5).
Jesus, Mary’s firstborn, declared that He had come for the poor, the marginalized and the lost. James, the second brother, insisted upon social justice in thought, word and deed.
The writing of the third brother, Jude, appears more problematic. After identifying the heretics and troublemakers found in many New Testament churches, Jude moves on to the type of person whom we usually avoid: grumblers, malcontents, self-centered, braggarts, always after their own gain (v. 16). Actually, their attitude is diametrically opposed to that expressed in Mary’s Magnificat.
Jude counsels earnest spiritual preparation to reach out rather than to avoid such people (v. 20-21). None are beyond God’s redemptive power, though there must be individualized approaches (v. 22-23). God alone is able to cause even the obnoxious to stand faultless before Him, trophies to His transforming grace (vv. 24-25).
Jude 16-25
Catherine Kroeger
Redeeming the Obnoxious
The young mother-to-be exulted in the transforming power of God’s grace: the lowly raised up, the hungry filled, the powerless empowered. Three of her sons were to voice that same concern for the humble and despised. Though at first those listed as Jesus’ brothers (Mt. 13:55; Mark 6:3) were not in sympathy with His mission (Mark 3:21), in time they became stout followers (Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 9:5).
Jesus, Mary’s firstborn, declared that He had come for the poor, the marginalized and the lost. James, the second brother, insisted upon social justice in thought, word and deed.
The writing of the third brother, Jude, appears more problematic. After identifying the heretics and troublemakers found in many New Testament churches, Jude moves on to the type of person whom we usually avoid: grumblers, malcontents, self-centered, braggarts, always after their own gain (v. 16). Actually, their attitude is diametrically opposed to that expressed in Mary’s Magnificat.
Jude counsels earnest spiritual preparation to reach out rather than to avoid such people (v. 20-21). None are beyond God’s redemptive power, though there must be individualized approaches (v. 22-23). God alone is able to cause even the obnoxious to stand faultless before Him, trophies to His transforming grace (vv. 24-25).
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