Decisions, Decisions

Great politicians always have to make big decisions. It's the ability to choose the right path, usually under both time and policitcal pressure, that determines their greatness. For many, choosing the "right path" means possible political suicide. It's looking beyond themselves and their current situation (temporal) to those ideals which are moral and ethical (eternal). Pilate didn't share that perspective. Concerned about his standing with the "powers that be" he succumbed to the shouts of the crowd. Like Pilate, we too are faced with choices. Each day of our lives, the world shouts to us to choose the easy, the popular, the selfish path--to live for the temporal. Like Pilate, when we listen to the world, avoiding the opportunities the Lord gives us to stand for Him, we're guilty of shedding Jesus' blood. But unlike Pilate, we know that this same blood was shed for our forgiveness. It's the same blood that we receive along with wine, and His body, along with the bread in Holy Communion. Tonight, as we receive the sacrament, confessing those times we've chosen the temporal, we do so, with the full assurance of God's perfect grace, and we receive strength from Him to live for the eternal. Lord, thank you for Your precious gift to us. Give us the strength to live for You!