Jesus Bent Down


Several times in the New Testament the authors recorded that “Jesus bent down.” Last Sunday it was when the woman was caught in adultery. The evangelist writes, “Jesus bent down and began writing in the sand.” When Jesus invited those without sin to cast the first stone, all walked away. Jesus, the itinerant preacher, met the eyes of the woman and asked, “Has no one condemned you?” And she answered, “No one.”

There are other occasions when Jesus bent down. I’m sure he bent down often when he was learning carpentry from Joseph. A carpenter bends down many times to get the correct measurements for a chair or table and to shave the wood to make it smooth. And when he was separated from his parents when they came to Jersusalem for the Passover, he not only bent down but sat down with the Jewish leaders to open up the Scriptures with his knowledge.

When he gathered the children around him, I’m sure he bent down to be on their level. Probably some of them crawled up on his lap and asked him lots of questions.

On the way to Golgotha carrying a heavy wooden cross, Jesus was bent down again, barely able to make his way. But Simon the Cyrenean helped him carry the burden, perhaps indicating that everyone who follows Jesus must carry their cross. And at the crucifiction, Jesus bent down to be nailed to the cross and died an excruciating dealth.

Jesus showed this humble posture  many times to teach us the way to follow him.  As we reflect on the times Jesus showed us the path to imitate him, not from some lofty place, but often from the ground or some lowly condition, we are silenced. We cannot say we don’t know how to follow Jesus when he spent all 33 years of his life on earth  teaching us the way. It is not easy, but it is the only true path that will take us to the heavenly kingdom.

Barbara Mayer, OSB

 

 

 

 

 

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