Main news for 25 July 2018

Jesus' words, "blessed is anyone who does not stumble because of Me!" can be understood in different ways. The most widespread understanding, already accepted as common, is also the most straightforward: Jesus must be accepted as the Son of God and as the Messiah, and those who accept Him as such will be well, they will enter the Kingdom, and salvation is guaranteed for them.

Formally, this understanding can be considered entirely correct, but it comes from the realities of later Christian ages, ages when everyone (in the Christian world, of course) knows from childhood all the right words written and spoken about Jesus by those who experienced all that was said in their own lives. In that case "not to stumble" means only to remain faithful to the accepted truths of faith known from childhood.

Jesus Himself, however, was speaking to an audience for whom what it had to accept was not at all obvious. Judging by His words, in the hearts of those who were to "not stumble" there had to be something that would let them recognize Him precisely in the capacity in which He came into the world.

What is at issue, then? If we look closely at the situations that describe Jesus being accepted by those who seek His help, and on the other hand look at those who reject Him, much becomes clear. It is no accident that He is most often accepted by those who have found themselves in a hopeless situation.

The point is not that all these people were broken by the trouble that had fallen on them, but that a crisis by itself easily and quickly washes from a person's heart and soul everything superficial and artificial, so that only the main thing remains. Therefore, in order "not to stumble," one must first leave behind all artificial intellectual constructions, all prearranged concepts, all a priori ideas about the Messiah and the Kingdom, and about spiritual life in general, leaving only the main thing: the Torah, the commandments, the path of righteousness.

If we look at those who do not accept Jesus, it becomes clear that they reject Him either from the same "ideological" considerations, preferring their own theological concepts, within which "such a thing is impossible," to obvious reality, or from ordinary human fear, not so much fear of persecution as fear of losing what has become a familiar and inseparable part of life, whether property, social status, or simply the established and dearly loved pattern of life. This also includes the fear of losing familiar religiosity: after all, the very appearance of Jesus as He came into the world destroyed many familiar religious notions.

So, in order "not to stumble," one must resolutely get rid of two things: familiar and beloved opinions and concepts, which often turn into convenient cliches, and those fears of losing familiar forms of life that permeate fallen humanity from head to foot. This is not easy, but the reward will be the Kingdom and salvation.