Canto VIIId

DAILY DEVOTION #4

INTRO TO LINES 61 – 66

Just before these lines, Dante requested that his “enemy” would experience grief.  The lines of 61 – 66 reveal that Dante’s “enemy” will experience grief

 LINES 61 - 63

“Get Filippo Argenti!”  they all cried.  And at those shouts the Flourentine, gone mad, turned on himself and bit his body fiercely.

 OBSERVATION

Dante requested grief to fall upon his enemy.  His request is being honored.  He is getting what he requested, his enemy is about now experiencing “pain.”

 LINES 64 - 66

We left him there, I’ll say no more about him.  A WAILING NOISE BEGAN TO POUND MY EARS and made me STRAIN MY EYES TO SEE AHEAD.

 OBSERVATION

Dante’s requested grief is not bringing him relief.  The unintended consequences are forcing him to ignore the grief as he strains his eyes to see ahead; thus giving the sense that he does not want to know any more about this grief.

 NOTE

One may be reminded that Judas (Luke 22:48) got what he wanted with a kiss (the arrest of Jesus); but then after getting what he wanted, he realized it wasn’t what he wanted and took his own life.  One must assume that, out of guilt, he felt he had no other alternative in response of his desire and deed.

 CONSIDERATION

Perhaps you know someone like Judas/Dante who got what they desired and when they did, were awakened to it not being what it was cracked up to be.

Answered prayer can bring about unintended consequences.  “Reading Lolita in Tehran” the author, Azar Nafisi, got what she wanted:  the overturning of the Shah.  Her “prayer” was answered.  Unfortunately, the Shah was replaced by the Ayatollah Khomeini.  He then proceeded to close down education for women and insisted that they wear the veil.  The author then fled the country after her prayer was answered.

HOLY WEEK

This coming Holy week is a time of self-reflection.  Perhaps there has been a time in your life that prayer was answered, and there were unintended consequences that caused more grief than relief.

 THOUGHT TO PONDER

Sometimes, unintended consequences bring about more grief than relief

 SCRIPTURE TO PONDER

'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.’  Leviticus 19:18

 QUESTION TO PONDER

God has called us to be a love-driven people.  Let not anger control us.  What can help us to walk in the ways of God?