We follow up yesterday's daily lectionary Gospel passage with today's.
John 12:20-26 (The Message)
A Grain of Wheat Must Die
20-21There were some Greeks in town who had come up to worship at the Feast. They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee: "Sir, we want to see Jesus. Can you help us?"22-23Philip went and told Andrew. Andrew and Philip together told Jesus. Jesus answered, "Time's up. The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24-25"Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal.
26"If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you'll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment's notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.
Today I give thanks that Jesus' hour, his time, has come. I give thanks that he has shown us that conflict is necessary and can bring new life. Jesus demonstrates that new life only comes when we go through conflict and not around it. When we hold onto our old ways of living, our old ways of relating, the result is only more of the same old crap (sorry, but that was the best word I could use!). But when we walk head long into the lion's den with our arms open and let go of our fear we have the opportunity to change and be changed. Fear of death, fear of embarrassment, fear of confrontation, fear of conflict, fear of the future and whatever it may bring causes us to hold on to our dear little lives. Jesus shows us that this is no way to live. Jesus' challenge to us is not unlike this tough question from Mary Oliver: "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" You life is precious and can be lived in a wildly faithful and satisfying way. That way is a way that recklessly follows the love and life of Jesus, not ignoring our fears, but walking through them hand in hand with the Lord of Life. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord Jesus, for showing us the hour has come, the time is now to be reckless in love, to follow you and to be ready to serve at a moment's notice.
Psalm 146 (The Message)
Psalm 146
1-2 Hallelujah! O my soul, praise God!All my life long I'll praise God,
singing songs to my God as long as I live.
3-9 Don't put your life in the hands of experts
who know nothing of life, of salvation life.
Mere humans don't have what it takes;
when they die, their projects die with them.
Instead, get help from the God of Jacob,
put your hope in God and know real blessing!
God made sky and soil,
sea and all the fish in it.
He always does what he says—
he defends the wronged,
he feeds the hungry.
God frees prisoners—
he gives sight to the blind,
he lifts up the fallen.
God loves good people, protects strangers,
takes the side of orphans and widows,
but makes short work of the wicked.
10 God's in charge—always.
Zion's God is God for good!
Hallelujah!
The Peace of Christ be with you all this Holy Week,
Pastor Rick
http://gimmecinco.blogspot.com
Don't forget this week's schedule:
Potluck/Seder/Communion - Thursday - 6:30 pm (please bring a side dish to share)
Stations of the Cross - Good Friday - Noon - Washington Park on the north side of Crown Center (Sponsored by Holy Family Catholic Worker House)
Deacons and Elders meeting - Saturday - 3:30 pm (Please be in prayer and fasting for this meeting)
Sunrise Service - Sunday - Begins at 6:30 at Huron Park behind the downtown KCK library (Bring a chair)
Easter Breakfast - 8 am after the sunrise service (Cooked by the men of the church)
Sunday School - 9:45 am
Easter Sunday service - 11 am (No lunch after worship)
I am grateful for the tough questions that we need to ask, of ourselves, each other and to search for the answers, the real answers in our hearts...knowing that the one constant answer is Jesus.
ReplyDeleteI give thanks for faithful servants such as Rick, Martha, Jennifer, DeDe, Carmen, Alfonso, Natalie, Luis, Luke, Tom, Terry, Thelma and all the others who dedicate their lives to Christ and to rebuild their lives around Grandview Park. We are lucky to have servants such as you who love us and love the church.
I am thankful for friends who remind me and help me refocus
I am thankful for the journey that Jesus takes this week...and that he takes every week. May we hold onto that in our lives and live like Him.
And I borrow from Pastor Rick, I also give thanks for the opportunities to let go of the old and move forward for the better (for ourselves and for others). We can learn from the past but should not live in the past.
randy