Sunday, March 14, 2010

Ptooie

"Then some began to spit on Him" - Mark 14:65

"Again and again they struck Him on the head with a staff and spit on Him." - Mark 15:19

"They spit on Him, and took the staff and struck Him on the head again and again." - Matthew 27:30


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The ten-year-old me stood confidently at the plate.

It was the last inning, two outs, and we were beating the last place team by 15 runs.

As I took my stance, I noticed the pitcher glaring in at me with a look of disgust. After all, he was getting creamed.

His first pitch headed straight over my head - no doubt a sign of frustration.

His second pitch was right over the plate, and I blasted it into right center field. As it rolled to the fence, I tore around the bases like a ... well, like a ten-year-old.

As I rounded third, I saw that the second baseman had the ball and was throwing it home.

I raced towards the plate ... and slid into a wave of sand and dirt ....

"Yerrrrrrr outttta there!" I heard the umpire shout as the ball and I arrived at the same time.

The catcher jumped up, took off his mask, looked down ....

... and spit on me.

Have you ever been spit on? There are few things more humiliating, trust me.

And there are even fewer things that are more condescending.

So how did I handle such an embarrassment, you ask?

I did what any other ten-year-old would have done. I got up, tackled the catcher, and rained tiny blows on his chest protector until the coaches separated us.

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Lord Jesus, at this time of year I usually focus on the physical torture you went through to gain our freedom. But sometimes I forget the humiliation you were forced to suffer as well. Even though you were without sin, you endured one of the most degrading acts of human nature.

Unlike the ten-year-old version of me, you stood there and took it. Even more amazingly, you forgave them.


I keep asking myself who would ever spit on the face of God. And I pray that my sins are not the equivalent of such a disrespectful thing, even though in my heart I know they probably are.


I'm so sorry.

5 comments:

Anne said...

Great story and wonderful prayer! I remember being spit on as a child as well, and I was probably also about ten years old. I was at school and a new boy spit on my head on the playground. Disgusting! Just awful! Unlike you, after I cried, I retaliated in a very girl-like fashion, I tattled to the teacher. I remember he was given a detention for spitting on me. And I never forgave him for it. In my mind, he was a forever bully. I need to ask Jesus to teach me to be more forgiving as well.

Shirley said...

I hang my head in shame as I think of the many sins I have committed that are the equivalent of spitting on His Holy Face.

Victor S E Moubarak said...

Wonderful wonderful homily. Thank you.

God bless.

Daily Grace said...

I wonder how many times in my life that I spit in the face of God without realizing it; that makes me sad even to think about it.

Thank you for personalizing this for me and others.

God bless

the booklady said...

Michael,

Today I went to the home of the family I had to call in a case of child abuse on. The mother had thrown a remote control at her own son and given him a black eye. In my position, as DRE, I had no choice but to report her. She was cleared, but she was also very, very angry. She could easily have spit on me today. She didn't, although some of her words were close to venomous. On the other hand, I have been in the position where I've been that angry with someone. If only we could all remember when we're angry, what it's like to feel truly helpless and in need of forgiveness and understanding, there'd be a whole lot less spitting and a whole lot more hugging!

God bless you for this inspiring post!