Prayer Prompt before reading MT 8:18-22: Come, Holy Spirit, teach me how to pray, interpret the Scriptures for me so that I may know the Truth about who God the Father is and God the Son so that I may know who I am.
“Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” MT 8:18-22
As we enter into the first actions and words from Jesus after the Sermon on the Mount, we find people calling him “Teacher” and Jesus calling himself “Son of Man”. Jesus will slowly reveal himself as the God Man. He also starts to instruct us in how to become his followers. This is important as it leads us to understanding our place in salvation history to be a saint.
Scripture Scholars conclude that the title “Son of Man” is an enigmatic (hard to understand; mysterious) title. It is used in Dn 7:13-14 as a symbol of “the saints of the Most High,” the faithful Israelites who receive the everlasting kingdom from the Ancient One (God). They are represented by a human figure that contrasts with the various beasts who represent the previous kingdoms of the earth.
Scripture Scholars go on to say “In the Jewish apocryphal books of 1 Enoch and 4 Ezra the “Son of Man” is not, as in Daniel, a group, but a unique figure of extraordinary spiritual endowments, who will be revealed as the one through whom the everlasting kingdom decreed by God will be established. It is possible though doubtful that this individualization of the Son of Man figure had been made in Jesus’ time, and therefore his use of the title in that sense is questionable.
Of itself, this expression means simply a human being, or, indefinitely, someone, and there are evidences of this use in pre-Christian times. Its use in the New Testament is probably due to Jesus’ speaking of himself in that way, “a human being,” and the later church’s taking this in the sense of the Jewish apocrypha and applying it to him with that meaning. Rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes: the supreme council called the Sanhedrin was made up of seventy-one members of these three groups and presided over by the high priest. It exercised authority over the Jews in religious matters.
As you can see, Jesus is revealing to us that he is fully human, and he is teaching the Jews who are present that he has been sent to do the will of God. Or at least from their Jewish interpretations of the Torah “a unique figure of extraordinary spiritual endowments” or a symbol of the “saints of the Most High” who receive the everlasting kingdom from the Ancient One.
A personal take away from today’s short reading may be that in silence ask Jesus who He is. This personal encounter with the Lord is what he desires much like we desire a deep intimate relationship with others. This is the fabric of God, love. A deep seated desire he put in us to be holy and perform actions similar to Jesus for others.
It brings great joy, it requires sacrifice, and suffering will always be involved! Is it worth it? This is the spiritual adventure of faith that only you can decide whether you jump in or run from it. God will never stop chasing after you. It’s up to you to totally surrender and find your heart’s deepest desires to be fulfilled by the One who put them there and wants nothing more than for you to rest in his arms for all eternity! Jesus has nowhere to lay his head, will you give up some of your time each day for him to rest with you?
Today’s challenge: Ask Jesus who he is and patiently wait for an answer. It may come through another, but it is written all over the Gospels. Research them, reflect on them, pray with them.
Be a servant, be a saint today!
#Christian YODO (You Only Die Once; we will live again!)
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