10Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
Each school day, I stand with my students, face the American flag, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. That flag reminds me that we gained glory from suffering. The people that suffered before us did not know what we would do with their suffering but they persevered for our sake. I think the prophets did the same. They did not know the outcome of what they wrote. They did not know Jesus Christ would live and die they way he did. They only knew that God would fulfill his promise and so they continued to write for future generations.
We are those future generations and we have the privilige of seeing the completed story in the gospel. Now, the angels look down at us anxious to see the fulfillment of God’s promises.
I imagine the angels look upon us like I look upon my students. I hope they learned something valuable. I hope they make a difference. I hope they change the world. I hope they promote goodness. I hope they are nice to others. I hope they remember their history. I hope they seek a brighter future.
It’s important to keep perspective on our Christian life. Others suffered so we could know what we have in God’s Word. Now, what will we do with our living hope?
We do this ritual to remember our American roots, to demonstrate patriotism or simply honor our current place of residency. Of course, they laugh at me, but then they stand. They know that that ritual may be bothersome and disruptive to their immediate activity but it is an important time of memorial.
Posted by Marian Fontanilla