That reply has always impressed me. “I shall die of having lived”  It describes how the archbishop lived his life. In our scripture today, we gain an amazing glimpse into the inner life of Jesus' at a critical time in His life. There is a price on His head. Jesus is close to looking death square in the face. What seems to be friendly advice comes from an unlikely source, "Get out of town," the Pharisees tell Him, "Herod wants to kill You!"

Chances of any one of us having to go through this particular crisis are remote. But... we will go through some dark valley sometime-- somewhere-- someday. It may be the loss of someone we love, a life threatening illness, the breakup of a relationship or loss of a job. But the question isn't will crisis hit; it's when will crisis come, and how will we handle it?

Once again the "Good News" is that Christ has been there. He is with us in "the thick of things" and very much in touch with the depth of our struggles. Not only was there a price on Jesus' head, He knew that storm clouds were gathering and He knew for certain that He was headed for a confrontation with death. How does He handle it? If you and I can get in touch with and develop the principles Jesus used to get through this toughest of times, we can put them into practice in our own lives.

Before we look at these principles, however, there is an issue we need to get out of the way. There is an attitude about Jesus' life that says, "Jesus was able to do all of this because He was the Son of God."  Crisis, death and dying is all in a day's work for God's Son! This has the effect of dismissing His relevance for us. "Temptation, suffering and even death are a piece of cake for the Son of God... how does that help me?"  If Jesus confronts death and doesn't even flinch... well, that leaves me out of the loop. He's in a league way beyond me. If Jesus endures simply because He is God's Son, what comfort is that to a poor mortal like me? The fact is however, Jesus does blink. Remember this, "Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me..."?  or this, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

I. Jesus was inner directed and not outer directed.

It is exactly at this time you need a strong sense of inner direction.

No matter how hectic and troubled outer circumstances may be, we gain strength when we take time to develop our inner lives. The press of duties and overloaded schedules conspire to keep us from giving attention to what's inside. Take time to seek that "still small voice". Make constant conscious contact with God a part of daily living. If you trace Jesus' steps through the Gospels, you will find Him regularly taking time out for contact with God. And talk about a hectic, overbooked schedule. How would you like to be responsible for launching the Kingdom of God in about three years!

II. Jesus was very clear about the driving force of His life.

The driving force of Jesus' life was that God should be in charge -- at all times and in every place. Whether Herod or anybody else was after His life, Jesus was at peace within because where God is in charge, things are going to work according to God's will. St. Paul says it this way, "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28).

Try this exercise when you have the opportunity to take some quiet time. Ask, "What is the driving force of my life?"  Don't prejudge or even think too much about what emerges in your mind. Simply let it come and write it down. If the driving force of your life is something you wouldn't want to tell anyone else about, that's okay. You don't have to turn that sheet in to anybody. When you get the driving force of your life, what is the second most powerful force in your life? And third... keep going until there are no more answers?

III. Jesus stayed focused on the goal of His life no matter what was happening around Him.

Amazing, isn’t it? Curious that given the number of animals available, that Jesus chooses a hen! Where’s the Biblical precedent for that? What about the mighty eagle of Exodus or Hosea’s stealthy leopard or the proud lion of Judah ? Yet when you think about it, it’s pretty typical of Him. He is always turning things upside down, so that children and peasants wind up on top while kings and scholars land on the bottom. He is always wrecking our expectations of how things should turn out by giving prizes to losers and paying the last first. So of course He chooses a chicken, which is about as far from a fox as you can get. That way the options become very clear:  you can live by licking your chops or you can die protecting the chicks.

Which he does, as it turns out. He slides up on her one night in the yard while all the babies are asleep. When her cry wakens them, they scatter. She dies the next day where both fox and chickens can see her—wings spread, breast exposed—without a single chick beneath her feathers. It breaks her heart, but it does not change a thing. If you mean what you say, then this is how you stand...WITHOUT GIVING UP!

What would you say is your single most important goal in all of life? When all is said and done... when you have lived your life, done your best and come to the end of the road, what will be the goal you have reached? Crisis will come and go. Hard times will dot the road you have traveled. Sometimes, devastating experiences will press hard on your soul. But when Life's Director calls out, "It's a wrap!"  what will be that bottom line goal of life you have sought to achieve?

The three central principles that governed Jesus' life are available to you and to me. Here's a way to evaluate how they are working in our lives.

2. Do the exercise concerning the driving force of your life. What is actually driving your life and what do you wish were the driving forces?

May God give us the Spiritual Integrity to build these principles into our living so that we produce the abundant Fruit of the Spirit by being the Heart, Hands, and Voice of Christ in our day!  Amen!