the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill Jesus; but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard. (Luke 19:47-48)

Whether it is the Gospels, the reflections of the mystics or our modern sage, Michael Leunig, they outline that human actions and reactions can be attributed to the choice between fear or love. Love is arresting and attractive because it is in sharp counterpoint to fear. There were many forces at work in first century Palestine but one way of reading this passage juxtaposes the fear of the ‘leaders of the people’ with the love of Jesus. Jesus’ love seen in his preaching and ministry was attractive – thus ‘the people were spellbound’.

With this in mind, we should reflect upon our actions and reactions to discern how many come from a place of love and how many come a place of fear. Am I practising what I preach? And if I don’t like what I see, how am I going to change? They are difficult but important questions for us to answer so that we can live the full life of Easter.

Have a great week!

Patrick