what about jesus?
"Blest shall you be when men hate you, when they ostracize you and insult you and proscribe your name as evil because of the Son of Man." —Luke 6:22
Jesus is a Sign that is contradicted (Lk 2:34). He says: "Blest are you poor" (Lk 6:20), and "Woe to you rich" (Lk 6:24). By contrast, most of us say the opposite. The rich don't like to hear their lives may be wasted (see Eccl 1:2), and the poor don't like the idea that God may never want them to be rich. Jesus can get both ends of the economic spectrum upset with Him. In fact, He got people so upset that they (and we) crucified Him. Jesus said: "Blest is the man who finds no stumbling block in Me" (Mt 11:6).
Right now, Jesus is calling you to give your whole life to Him now and forever. If anyone else made that demand of you, it would be very unreasonable. However, Jesus died on the cross for you and rose from the dead for you. He, and He alone, has the right to expect everything from you. Will you accept Him on His terms, or contradict and reject Him? Will you listen to Him and repent, or crucify the Son of God for yourself and hold "Him up to contempt?" (Heb 6:6) What will you do with Jesus?
Prayer: Jesus, may You be the Cornerstone (Ps 118:22) and not the Stumbling Stone (1 Pt 2:7-8) of my life.
Promise: "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord." —Jer 17:7
Praise: Alleluia! Jesus has risen and will raise us from the dead! Alleluia forever!
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, July 26, 1997
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 29, 1997