Those Who Lose Will Save

Sunday, September 16, 2018

 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’ And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’

 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ Mark 8:27-38

We all ache for our lives to be easier, simpler and less messy. We would love for all of our burdens to be lifted by God so that we could be physically and emotionally free of all that binds us in our bodies and in our spirits. We ache to do ministry from recliners, yet we find ourselves ministering to those in pain while we are in pain. We are called to go where we are afraid to o and to do what we are loathe to do. Yet, even in the scariest of moments, we are never alone.

Peter called Jesus the Messiah and then wants to silence him when Jesus tells him the truth. The future is messy and violent. The work we are called to is messy, sometimes violent and scary. Our bodies and minds will not want to go where we are sent. Yet, Jesus promises that is where we will find new life. In the midst of chaos and torment, we will meet love and transformation, for that is where God is working. We are invited to lose our lives and sense of self-importance so that God can work with us and among us.

Today I ask God to help me set aside fear so that I might go to the hard places and take the rough journeys for love. May we be instruments of love and redemption as we take up our crosses and follow Jesus.

Collect- O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.