The 22nd Sunday After Pentecost:
Scriptures: Psalm 17:1-9: Luke 20:27-38
Key Verse: “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me under the shadow of your wings.” (Psalm 17:8)
<music>
<Intro:>
Hello, This is Jade.
Welcome to Yi.kigai
A space for all to explore the intersection between faith and daily life
<music>
<Message:>
Last week, as I was getting ready to lead the worship to celebrate Reformation Sunday, I read an article in our weekly newsletter written by our synodical bishop. Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee shares that a friend of hers, also a pastor, said to her, “The thing is I don’t get that much enjoyment out of pastoring for the work involved except God probably wants me to do it. Knowing that is some consolation.” Then the Bishop goes on to share a statistic that two out of five pastors have thought about leaving ministry in the last year, which makes her sad and anxious. This thought stayed with me throughout the worship along with the message on Jesus coming for the lost.
Seeing all the changes and challenges our churches have been facing over the last couple of decades, I also felt sad when I saw people leave the church due to dissatisfaction and resentment. But I also felt blessed seeing people join the church for love and forgiveness.
In fact, in 2020, I planned to resign from our organization, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America but ended up not doing so. God probably nudged our Bishop and told her to delay my resignation. I was told to rethink my decision, and I did.
Leaving my faith in Jesus wasn’t my thought at all; stopping proclaiming Jesus coming for the lost wasn’t my plan either. While feeling tired from experiencing people’s biases and prejudices, I was rethinking how I could be God’s messenger from a different platform or venue. The Psalmist’s words in 17:8 express well my prayer to God in 2021, “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me under the shadow of your wings.” While hiding under God’s care and consolation, I set my goal and recentered my heart for 2022. My goal is to love well and forgive well with whichever opportunities I have. And my recentered serving heart is grounded on serving through faith in Jesus by God’s grace instead of through faith in anyone by their affirmation.
As we celebrate All Saints Sunday and recall all micro and macro consolation that God has given to you and me for the past year, let us remember the dual identity that we bear, being sinners and saints. Sometimes, it is okay to hide and stay in the gray areas while questioning, reenergizing, recuperating, or whatever necessary process you need to go through under God’s wings. The year 2022 has been a blessed year because my goal and my serving heart set a year ago have brought me the peace that I need. Thanks be to God.
<Music>
<Closing Prayer:>
May your coming week be blessed by God’s grace
As together we explore the intersection between faith and daily life
<Outro:>
Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and follow yi.kigai.
<music>
Comments