 St Alban’s Episcopal Church Bolivar, Missouri Tuesday, April 12, 2022 Baby trees/what John Mark did yesterday Today’s Gospel: John 12:20-33  Baby treesI couldn’t resist going out in the pouring rain yesterday to check on the little trees. Here is some of what I saw: Everywhere there are budding branches – even on the fig tree that I was afraid that last frost had killed!  The Collect for today O God, by the passion of your blessed Son, you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen  Some of you are old enough to remember Father Daniel Berrigan (1921-2016), a Jesuit priest and poet whose defiant tactics of opposition to the Vietnam war landed him in prison. The United States was struggling with the Civil Rights movements and the Vietnam war when he emerged as an intellectual leader of the Catholic progressives, who articulated the truth that racism, poverty, militarism and capitalistic greed were all part of an unjust and unsustainable society. It was, for him, essentially a religious position, based on careful reading of the New Testament. Many in the church found this liberating; others were scandalized to hear a priest challenge the political and social status quo so openly. Right now there are Russian priests who are in the same situation – risking their freedom and their lives to challenge the invasion of Ukraine and the war crimes Russian soldiers have committed there. He continued to protest racism, war and capitalistic greed as unworthy of Christians who claim to follow the Prince of Peace. It is always risky to follow Jesus. And it is often scandalous, especially to power structures both inside and outside the Church, and not in Russia only.   The Gospel for Tuesday in Holy Week John 12:20-33 Among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me the Father will honor. 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 judgment 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 forever. 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 darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in 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 said this he departed and hid from them.  Yesterday, kindergartener John Mark Williams made hot cross buns with his slime. Never, ever think the children aren’t watching, listening, learning – remembering! |
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