“Merely to see him is a hardship for us, because his life is not like that of others, and different are his ways.”
Wisdom 2

Similarly to today, people grew in anger toward Jesus for interrupting their routine. This bold statement comes from the Old Testament, but feelings of hatred and fear of change continue over time. Our society dislikes all people who are different from us and builds hatred out of ignorance. Instead of learning from people with diverse views and lifestyles that do not conform to the status quo of set lifestyles, people are quick to judge and enthusiastic to defend their views without thinking about other ideas.

Jesus led by clear example in combating the status quo. We often hear of the Jesus who loved everyone and included all people. With his arms outstretched, he brought people together to share in the Good News. However, the readings surrounding Jesus’ death remind us of Jesus’ progressive activism in working for the poor and oppressed. He understood that God’s mission for him for his incarnated life demanded that he take a strong, outright stance to battle injustice. Jesus actually led a controversial life because he was unwilling to appease popular belief and his challenging messages upset many people along the way. Upsetting people was not a main concern of Jesus. He worked to challenge beliefs and promote change, and he was successful judging by the strong positive and negative reactions to his sermons.