The 4th Sunday of Epiphany, Year A
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12
Key Verse: “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27)
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Hello, This is Jade.
Welcome to Yi.kigai
A space for all to explore the intersection between faith and daily life
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Have you ever experienced emotional exhaustion? How about spiritual exhaustion? There might have been a time when there wasn’t much strength left for you to push forward. There might have been a time when you realized your values differed from the values of the majority. There might have also been a time when the purpose of your life didn’t make sense to or wasn’t supported by loved ones who couldn’t seem to understand you. Then you began doubting yourself. You felt emotional or spiritual exhaustion.
When this happens, such a feeling can last a brief period of time like a day or a week, or it could last for months or more than a year. The more time that goes by, the question of “What’s the point of trying?” begins to haunt you. Nothing seems relevant. It is like missing your steps one after another. Even a person with a strong will can’t take too much of it. Do you know what the most devastating situation is? It is when you stop yearning for your weary soul to be replenished. Then it becomes a way of life. Having a choice to live differently is wishful thinking. God is absent.
There were many stories shared at the Asian Lutheran International Conference in Thailand. Two stories shared by two female young adult leaders spoke to me the most. The first storyteller grew up in a dysfunctional family and was physically and sexually abused. I admire her courage to speak up and put her faith in God who loves her and never leaves her behind. The second storyteller told us about her friend committing suicide. She regretted not responding and comforting her friend enough and got tired of seeing her friend constantly talking about ending her life on social media. And one day, she learned about her death. I commit her to God and trust that God will use her personal story to teach all of us a great lesson. This great lesson is that there are many weary souls out there. And we are called to comfort them.
The theme for this year’s conference was ‘“Comfort, comfort my people,' says your God" from Isaiah 40:1. The power of stories goes hand in hand with the impact that both storytellers and listeners can bring. If we only keep or speak powerful stories among ourselves who have already accepted and experienced God’s salvation instead of sharing with those who haven’t heard and accepted it, will God’s Kingdom grow from a tiny mustard seed to a mighty tree?
Didn’t Jesus teach in Matthew 9:12-13, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.” Our individual and collective stories matter not only to those who have foretasted the kingdom of God through the means of grace, the Word and the Holy Meal, but also matter to those who haven’t had tasted it. Remember! Each of us is blessed to be a blessing that God doesn’t want us to keep and share only among ourselves.
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May your coming week be blessed by God’s grace
As together we explore the intersection between faith and daily life
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