Convicted Watergate conspirator G. Gordon...
Illustration
Convicted Watergate conspirator G. Gordon Liddy once gave a lecture on a college campus in Missouri.
Throughout the evening, Liddy, who had just been released from prison, harangued his audience with the idea that only force, brute strength, and an iron will can earn the respect of friends and foes in this "real world which is, in fact, a very tough neighborhood."
During the question-and-answer period, one of the professors rose to speak. Rather timidly, he objected, "In our country, most people -- after all -- do base their ethics on the teachings of Jesus -- and this doesn't sound much like the teachings of Jesus."
Liddy is said to have glared for a moment, before taking in a deep breath, and bellowing: "Yeah -- and look what happened to Jesus. They crucified him." To him, the case was closed. The audience responded to his put-down with laughter and thunderous applause.
G. Gordon Liddy was absolutely right. Jesus stood before the terrible, destructive power of Rome in courageous, virtuous silence, and that power rose up and crushed him. To the likes of G. Gordon Liddy -- and Pontius Pilate, Caiaphas, Herod, and even the Emperor Tiberius -- that should have been the end of the story, but it wasn't. There was another power at work in the life and death of Jesus.
That creative, life-giving power began its work in the cool silence of the tomb. This power worked much more rapidly, on that occasion, than it normally does in the world as we know it. A mere three days later, life coursed through Jesus' veins again, and he rose up and walked.
Ever since that day, the power of life has continued to contend with the power of death. It is a long, slow struggle -- but the witness of our faith is that life is winning ... and one day will reign triumphant.
Throughout the evening, Liddy, who had just been released from prison, harangued his audience with the idea that only force, brute strength, and an iron will can earn the respect of friends and foes in this "real world which is, in fact, a very tough neighborhood."
During the question-and-answer period, one of the professors rose to speak. Rather timidly, he objected, "In our country, most people -- after all -- do base their ethics on the teachings of Jesus -- and this doesn't sound much like the teachings of Jesus."
Liddy is said to have glared for a moment, before taking in a deep breath, and bellowing: "Yeah -- and look what happened to Jesus. They crucified him." To him, the case was closed. The audience responded to his put-down with laughter and thunderous applause.
G. Gordon Liddy was absolutely right. Jesus stood before the terrible, destructive power of Rome in courageous, virtuous silence, and that power rose up and crushed him. To the likes of G. Gordon Liddy -- and Pontius Pilate, Caiaphas, Herod, and even the Emperor Tiberius -- that should have been the end of the story, but it wasn't. There was another power at work in the life and death of Jesus.
That creative, life-giving power began its work in the cool silence of the tomb. This power worked much more rapidly, on that occasion, than it normally does in the world as we know it. A mere three days later, life coursed through Jesus' veins again, and he rose up and walked.
Ever since that day, the power of life has continued to contend with the power of death. It is a long, slow struggle -- but the witness of our faith is that life is winning ... and one day will reign triumphant.
