08/30/2020
Matthew 16:21-28 (Proper 17)
Chris Breslin
“Jesus gives his disciples a new barometer.” Whereas the God’s people’s faithfulness was measured by prosperity and flourishing in the Promised Land…”now Jesus is telling his disciples that persecution, suffering, and even death will not only be his fate but will also be the fate of anyone who seeks to follow him. Their discipleship is not to be gauged by their wealth, their power, or their prosperity here on earth. They will know they are following Jesus correctly when they are rejected, insulted, and even persecuted- just like Jesus and the prophets who were before them.” -Mark Charles & Soong-Chan Rah, Unsettling Truths
“But when the bad day in your week finally arrives—and it comes to all—by which I mean, that particular moment when your sufferings, as puny as they may be in the wider scheme of things, direct themselves absolutely and only to you, as if precisely designed to destroy you and only you, at that point it might be worth allowing yourself the admission of the reality of suffering, if not for yourself, exactly, then in preparation for the next painful bout of videoconferencing, so that you don’t roll your eyes or laugh or puke while listening to what some other person seems to think is pain.” -Zadie Smith, Suffering Like Mel Gibson (from Intimations)
In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen
Practical Tips and Resources for Hand Copying Scripture (Kairos Partnerships)
Songs for Today’s Worship Gathering:
Holy, Holy, Holy by Heber/Dykes
Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone? by Shepherd/Digerness
The Kingdom is Yours by Wilson/Spencer/Massey/Keyes
