A Day of Mourning
April 11, 2020
Holy Saturday
For the disciples, today was a day of mourning. A day of confusion. A day of bewilderment.
Each scattered and apart from one another. Each, perhaps, reflecting on the meal they had with Jesus just a couple of days earlier. Trying to remember what he said.
Did he say “Take this in remembrance of me”? It seemed odd at the time. A bit dramatic. But now? No. Now, I understand. Now, it makes sense.
He must have realized that his message of love was too radical for the religious authorities to abide. His willingness to eat with those on the margins, to have compassion and care for the outsider, his example, even command, to tear down boundaries that divide people, revealing God’s love and grace comes in many forms and expressions. That “love your neighbor” isn’t only for those who look like us, believe like us, love like us. “Neighbor” is everyone, even our adversaries. Well, that was just too radical.
I can’t believe he’s really gone. My teacher. My friend.
He said “remember me.”
By tomorrow many of the disciples will have made their way back to one another, but today, they are scattered. Today, they each begin to navigate the journey of grief. There’s no hope of resurrection in their minds; in their hearts. Only loss.
We know and anticipate the rest of the story. But today…
Every. Single. Day.
May 5, 2019
Church of the Servant, Wilmington, NC
3rd Sunday of Easter
Acts 5:27-32; John 21:1-19
Listen here:
Prodigal Love
March 31, 2019
Church of the Servant, Wilmington, NC
4th Sunday in Lent
Luke 15:1-3, 11b032; Joshua 5:9-12
Listen here:
An Open Letter to the Church
July 15, 2018
Church of the Servant, Wilmington, NC
Proper 10, Year B
Ephesians 1:3-14
Listen here:
Scripture Text:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.
jodygreenwood 