1 The
Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is also called Passover, was approaching. 2
The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill
Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction.
3 Then Satan
entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, 4
and he went to the leading priests and captains of the
Have you ever been sold down the river by a
friend? Imagine how Jesus and the disciples felt when one of their best friends
turned Jesus over to the high priests. There are some who believe that
Judas thought what he was doing was the right thing to do. He thought
that by turning over Jesus he would publicize their cause and free his fellow
Jews from the reign of oppression and slavery that they had felt under the
Romans. He thought they would be united. Imagine the horror he felt
as he watched his friend be tortured – it was a horror that was too much for
him to deal with. It was also difficult for the disciples to watch, but
many of them in turn betrayed Jesus- when push came to shove, they saved their
own lives and reputations by denying that they even knew him.
We at times also deny Jesus. We know
what the bible tells us Jesus wanted us to do, care for our “family”, feed the
hungry, yet often we deny our religion to attend a non religious event instead
of church. How many times do we call ourselves Christians but turn a
blind eye to the suffering of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
Near to our church, Holy Trinity in Manasquan, immigrants congregate to wait
for work- to provide money to care for their families, here and abroad.
Are they here legally or have they snuck in. Does it matter? We don’t
know what they are escaping. Many come from oppression- and oppressive
governments, living in poverty. Here in this country, most do slave jobs
that many of us are too good for. Does any of this sound familiar? We as
Christians are called to care for the least of our brothers, should politics
play into it?
It is the American dream to provide a
comfortable life for our family- where do we draw the line as Christians?
Dear lord, let us not turn a blind eye to
our fellow members. Let us not be so concerned with the monetary cost of
providing for our alien family, that we become like Judas and sell them down
the river. Amen
Jeff and Denise Clayton
American Dream by Switchfoot
When success is equated with
excess
The ambition for excess
wrecks us
As top of the mind becomes
the bottom line
When success is equated with
excess
If your time ain’t been nothing for money
I start to feel really bad
for you, honey
Maybe honey, put your money
where your mouth’s been running
If your time ain’t been nothing but money
I want out of this machine
It doesn’t feel like freedom
This ain’t
my American dream
I want to live and die for
bigger things
I’m tired of fighting for
just me
This ain't
my American dream
When success is equated with
excess
When we’re fighting for the
Beamer, the Lexus
As the heart and soul breath in the company goals
Where success is equated
with excess
‘Cause baby’s always talkin’ ‘bout a ring
And talk has always been the
cheapest thing
Is it true would you do what
I want you to
If I show
up with the right amount of bling?
Like a puppet on a monetary
string
Maybe we’ve been caught
singing
Red, white, blue, and green
But that ain’t
my
That ain’t
my American dream