Friday, March 28, 2014

Breaking Good

Like the character on the TV series, "Breaking Bad," Jesus facing the worst possible outcome through no fault of his own, reached the breaking point, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death" (Mk 14:34).  But unlike that character, Jesus chose good not evil at the breaking point. 

The TV character, like people are tempted to do when pressed to the breaking point, chose to pull out the stops and do whatever he felt he had to do to address the situation. He broke bad and while he thought he had things under control at first, he soon began to see that his life was spiraling downward fast. 

The problem "Walter White" found in "Breaking Bad" was caused by his focus when things seemed to be so out of control - he focused on himself, what he wanted and what he could do. The end game of self-focus is self destruction. Walter didn't save his life or his family, his life was traded for a life of crime, which destroyed his family and the life he sought to protect. 

When Jesus reached the breaking point, he chose good. Instead of focusing on himself, what he wanted and what he could do, he lifted his voice to heaven crying out, "Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will" (Mk 14:36).

Jesus could have fought back, he could have called for "twelve legions of angels" (Mt 26:53).  He could have stopped the crucifixion but he would have lost his life - the life of unity he had with the Father from before the beginning.  By taking things into his own hands, he would have circumvented the will of the Father and doomed mankind to eternal destruction. 

Jesus broke good "leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps" (1 Pet 2:21).  When it seems that all of Hell is breaking loose around you, that is not the time to let Satan suck you in to self-determination. This is precisely the time to break good and call upon the Father, seeking His will and His strength. Jus' Sayn. 

No comments:

Post a Comment