A Sign of the Real Church

Preparing for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost: One Day before Sunday (Year C)

Scripture (semicontinuous)

Psalter: Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

Old Testament: Jeremiah 17:14-27

Gospel: Matthew 10:34-42

Scripture (complementary)

Psalter: Psalm 1

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 29:2-20

Gospel: Matthew 10:34-42

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Prayer

Life-giving God, heal our lives, that we may acknowledge your wonderful deeds and offer you thanks from generation to generation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Reflection

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it (Matthew 10:37-39).

Our cross is already there, ready, from the very beginning; we need only take it up. But to keep us from believing that we must simply choose an arbitrary cross, or simply pick our suffering as we will, Jesus emphasizes that each of us has his or her own cross, ready, appointed, and appropriately measured by God. Each of us is to bear the measure of suffering and rejection specifically appointed for us. And the measure is different for each of us. God deems some worthy of great suffering, and to them he grants the blessing of martyrdom. Others he does not allow to be tempted beyond their strength.

The cross is not the horrible end of a pious, happy life, but stands rather at the beginning of community with Jesus Christ. Every call of Christ leads to death... death awaits us, namely death in Jesus Christ, the dying away of our old form of being human in Jesus' call... Suffering is the mark of the disciples of Jesus Christ. The disciple is not above the teacher. Discipleship is... having to suffer. Thus did Luther count suffering among the signs of the real church. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, No Greater Love: Lenten Meditations.

PRAYER: Redeeming Sustainer, visit your people and pour out your strength and courage upon us, that we may hurry to make you welcome not only in our concern for others, but by serving them generously and faithfully in your name. Amen.

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Learn more about Bonhoeffer’s life and significance, here.