Meditation from Sunday Sermon: Lent III March 27 Bob Leopold

Meditation from Sunday Sermon: Lent III Don't Fear the Reaper

Often the ministry of Jesus scares us: it is too real, too personal, too close-to-home . . . but by sharing in that ministry, we are given life-giving spiritual food. The promise for us becomes, as we share in the ministry of Jesus together, we are brought with him into Holy Communion with God.

The disciples do what we all try to do, they try to temper Jesus’s behavior. They subtly, perhaps passive-aggressively, try to influence your behavior. We all do this all the time, if not to Jesus, then to each other. Sometimes folks ask me, “Are you going to let your hair grow again?” When the actual request is, “Please cut your hair.” In much the same way, the disciples urge Jesus to eat something, when they may actually mean: get away from that woman, your ministry to her is scarring us . . .

This is something that the World does not understand and has never understood – the people of God do not fear death, because we know that there is something better for all of us. In my short drive to St. Paul’s every day, I pass by the Pickle Barrel restaurant on Market Street. More often than not, there is a car parked there with enough bumper-stickers to convince me that the driver of the car is of the World's ways, not a believer, and, is probably against the ideas of God and The Church entirely. One such sticker reads, “God loves you, pray for death.” What is intended as an insult to people of faith is, in fact, a cherished part of our tradition . . .

Death does not have the final word and one day we will all discover what it is to be truly wealthy, in the richness of God's eternal saving touch and everlasting healing embrace. All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave, even in Lent, we make our song: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Readings and a Prayer for Lent III

Exodus 17:1-7
Romans 5:1-11
John 4:5-42
Psalm 95

Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.