For God All Things Are Possible

Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’ Then Peter said in reply, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. Matthew 19:23-30

We want our lives to be easy. So many complain about what is now called "adulting" because growing up, being responsible and taking care of others is work. A life of faith, a life of following Jesus is hard work too. We want slide on shoes, our food cooked and delivered, and we want ease. Yet Jesus told his disciples that "easy faith" gets you nowhere. Not that we need to suffer but that in our suffering we are drawn close to God, and in our hard work we are blessed. What we offer, what we give up, when we feel isolated and in pain, we are loved as family as children of the living God.

Blessed Creator, you breathe life into us

you give us a village to raise us up

you surround us with all good things

and draw close to us when we are suffering.

Our world says we are failing when burdened

that we must not be beloved when suffering

if we find ourselves on the outside we are fools

yet Jesus calls us to see him in our midst.

Let us learn every good lesson from our toil

let gratitude and joy be our song and sign

may we who know the rough roads traveled

trust that we are held in your loving arms. Amen.