Lenten Reflection

Friday, March 27, 2009

John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Jesus moved about within Galilee; he did not wish to travel in Judea,
because the Jews were trying to kill him.
But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.
But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up,
not openly but as it were in secret.
Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said,
"Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look,
he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him.
Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ?
But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes,
no one will know where he is from."
So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said,
"You know me and also know where I am from.
Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me,
whom you do not know, is true. I know him,
because I am from him, and he sent me."
So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him,
because his hour had not yet come.

Reflection
Scott Connolly
Class of 2009

In this reading, Jesus's life was in danger, and people wished death upon him. Instead of staying in Galilee hiding, he traveled to Judea and risked everything by proclaiming to everyone that he was sent there by God.

We can learn many lessons from this reading. We all have a calling in life, like Jesus we must follow it. We can not sit on the sidelines, we must speak up and have our voices heard to stop injustices and suffering. Actions can speak louder then words and no action is too small.

This reading is asking us to follow God's calling to help others. For the past two years I have been called to H.O.P.E. and have journeyed down to eastern Tennessee. Here we worked to repair houses for people who otherwise could not afford it. Even though we only helped a handful of people, to those people, it meant the world to them and brought them God's love and joy.

Every time we help one person, we help shape the world for the better. Helping takes many forms, volunteering, donating, smiling at someone, speaking up for someone, or being a shoulder to cry on. Each and every one of these forms is important and can change a person's life.

Follow your calling from God. If we all do, those small actions towards one another will add up and form a stampede of steps towards a more just and compassionate world.