My Soul is Troubled

‘Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—“Father, save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.’ Jesus answered, ‘This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The crowd answered him, ‘We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains for ever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?’ Jesus said to them, ‘The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.’ After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them. John 12:27-36

Living life means having troubles and sometimes we are troubled to our core. Smack dab in the middle of Holy Week, we hear Jesus confessing to wanting to be saved from the hour to come. A very human and honest Savior, who knows the troubles of our human flesh. Despite the voice from heaven the crowd is wowed by, I am always wowed by the small vulnerable voice of Jesus in this moment. He recommends us all to walk in the light while we have it and not let the darkness of these days overtake us. A good reminder for us all today as the darkness tries to overshadow us.

Loving Creator, who make the sun to rise up

and the small seeds to break through the rough earth

bringing new life in the days of deep and lasting sorrow

and giving all creation new light and new direction.

We find ourselves raging at today's dark deeds

sinking deeper into the profound sadness here

we want to move to violence and selfishness

yet even know you call us to walk in the light.

Let us walk in the light children, despite it all

Lord, make us see you calling us beyond these days

moving us through this dangerous holy week together

so we might know new life with you now and always. Amen.