We encounter Paul being interrogated and questioned before the Sanhedrin. Paul's life is beginning to look a lot like Jesus' life. Paul finds himself in hot water because of his preaching just as Jesus found himself against all odds for proclaiming the truth.
At the end of the first reading we encounter the moment where , "the Lord stood by him [Paul] and said, 'take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome."
What is the cause of Jesus?
Two things.
First of all Jesus does not come to preach a cause. He comes to preach himself. The cause of Jesus is nothing other than himself, his person, the reality he breathes forth in the incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension.
Secondly, the cause is reality itself. Jesus reveal reality to humanity; he reveals the reality of God and also the reality of man's ultimate destination.
Paul takes a stand for reality revealed in the person of Jesus who works the work of redemption and stands victorious over death and offers new hope to all who believe.
The cause of Jesus is Jesus.
As the sadducees and pharisees dispute over the existence of angels, spirit, resurrection, it is ironic. They are disputing over what is real and Paul is inviting them to embrace reality in Jesus who comes to settle the dispute, once and for all.
"I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them." Jn 17:26
The cause of Jesus is that Jesus desires to live within each of us, the in dwelling of God in man.
Here is a cause worthy fighting for, living for, dying for.
Scripture quote to put to memory:
"I have written this to you to make you realize that you possess eternal life-you who believe in the name of the Son of God." 1 John 5:13
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