Read: John 12:20-36

The scene this passage from John sets for us is scripted for dramatic effect. Tell me you don’t immediately visualize how verses 21-32 play out as you read them. As an exercise in constructive confrontation befitting a spiritual leader, however, I think the Lord could have handled the situation with a mind toward more generally accepted HR practices. Rather than “out” him as a betrayer in front of his peers, wouldn’t dealing with Judas one-on-one have been preferable? One could argue, of course, that public humiliation was a small penance for the one who sold out the only Begotten Son of God for a few pieces of silver.

If I may linger on the topic of “leadership by example” for a moment longer, I know that this is going to seem petty of me, but I can’t help but feel that Jesus is exhibiting some passive/aggressive behavior. Imagine instead re-writing verse 26 as, “Jesus answered, ‘Listen up, yo! There’s something important I need to say to our brother Judas here, and just so y’all are on the same page with this, I’m saying it in front of you as well.”

Of course, what these admittedly irreverent musings ignore (besides the fact that there was a time not all that long ago when I would have been burned at the stake for expressing them) is the fact that what transpired between Jesus and Judas, as the Lord himself freely admitted, was nothing other than the fulfillment of scripture. From that standpoint, it’s a bit creepy to think that Jesus was colluding with the devil. Between the sacrament and Satan, Judas didn’t stand a chance — which is why I had some compassion for him even before I saw “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

Lord, keep me strong in faith and in covenant with you and with all those with whom I enter into relationship. Amen.
-Michael Boss

Read: John 12:20-36

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.

They came to see Jesus just days before his death. They had heard of this man who went from town-to-town healing, listening, and telling the people about the loving God. He accepted each person, no matter what station in life or how wealthy or poor. Each was a beloved child of God.

Jesus was leaving this earth, and he expected his followers to take on his work. They would be his body on earth, as we are today. He wanted the unbelievers to see him in us. We are to be his agents, his representatives, even his icons, as we point the way to Jesus and try to be as he was in his days on Earth.

How much of Jesus do we show to the World? Do we show kindness, healing, and acceptance to everyone we meet? Even those we find difficult to like? It is not an easy task, but it is ours. When questioners say, “We wish to see Jesus,” do they get to see him? It is up to each of us to make sure that they do.

Holy One, we asked that, with your help, we are able to show forth your love through your Blessed Son. Help us to be like him in every way and to your glory. Amen.
-Penny Worrell

Read: John 12:1-11

In this passage in John’s Gospel, we hear the story of Jesus receiving a gift from his friend Mary of Bethany.
The scented oils that she uses are expensive. Can you imagine how Mary would have felt if Jesus had said “oh you shouldn’t have …” or “I can’t let you spend so much on me!”

But we do this all the time to our friends and family, don’t we? They go out of the way to get us something special, and we tell them “it’s too much” or “I don’t deserve it.”

During Lent, we are following the life that Jesus led not just in ministry but also how he treated his friends. That is a clue about his leadership. He showed us how to be a good friend, didn’t he? He showed us how to allow others to give us gifts. He accepted these loving moments with his whole heart. And I think his friends and followers could tell that he was a humble and appreciative person, making him not only a charismatic leader but a warm and grateful friend.

It is not about “humility” when someone gives us a gift. It is about following the model Jesus set forth for us – to be a good receiver. I can imagine the warm smile on Jesus’ face and the love Mary felt in receiving that smile.
-Margie Adams

Read: Matthew 21:1-11

“… your king comes to you, gentle, and riding on a donkey …”

Our focus this year is on community.

What is leadership? Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Shepherds lead us. A good shepherd leads us to still waters, fresh grass, and protects us as we trudge the valley of the shadow. Six weeks ago we saw Jesus “led” into the wilderness by the Spirit (Matthew, Luke), or “driven” by the Spirit (Mark). In the wilderness, Jesus was tempted. He was tempted in every way like us (says the author of Hebrews), but without sin (he adds).

It’s tempting to think Jesus had some sort of armor plating off of which sin bounced, or Teflon skin to which sin could not stick. But the point of the Bible is that Jesus was just like us: flesh and blood, fears and anger, frustrations and sadness, happiness and pain. At the risk of sharing heresy, I don’t believe Jesus was superhuman. I believe he shared in both the glory of what it is to be fully human (which he embraced), as well as its ugliness (which he, God helping, cast off).

There is a common adage that a leader leads by example. Amongst twelve-step groups there is a saying, “We have no leaders, just trusted servants.” Jesus comes into our lives as a trusted servant of the highest order. He comes into our lives riding on a beast of burden. It carries him; he carries us; we carry one another, through us he carries the world. We don’t lead through power or might, but by love, grace, and, ultimately, sacrifice. It is scary, but it is the way of Jesus – the way of the cross.

Let us pray. Jesus, I am ashamed. You carry a burden, and it is me. You endured betrayal. I betray you daily. You endured hardship and pain. How often I seek to find a softer, easier way. You have every reason to hate the world you have made, and yet it is not your desire to conquer and destroy, but to gather and save. Weak though we are, help us to be more like you, and less like those who sought to destroy you. Help us to carry on your work and share your burden, we pray. Amen.
–Fr. Keith Axberg

Read: John 11:1-45

I remember being jolted awake by the phone at 5:30 a.m. on July 1, 2005. On the other end of the line was C, a relative of a family in my former husband Jon’s parish in rural Minnesota. The family’s son E had been driving home from a bar when he rolled his truck and was ejected because he was not wearing his seatbelt. He died instantly, and Jon was called to come to be with the family as they had just been notified. Jon begged me to go with him, so I threw on sweats and jumped in the car with him. We pulled up to the family’s farm 30 minutes later, and I walked into a house where people were sobbing and wailing. I spent the next hour alternating between being a shoulder on which people were sobbing and trying to help another parishioner make food to feed people. The local funeral director arrived eventually to talk to the family about arrangements, and I accompanied Jon and the family to the funeral home to see E. I remember standing there feeling helpless as E’s paternal grandparents sobbed on my shoulders and E’s mother was bent over her son’s body sobbing.

The next week was an example of the positive ways a church community mourns and takes care of their people. E’s father was supposed to be shipping cattle the day his son died, so other people from the parish showed up to the farm with their trucks and took care of it for them. The standard Midwestern Lutheran comfort food was brought to the farm by families in the parish, and E’s mother was the recipient of the first prayer shawl made by the parish’s new crocheting/knitting group. I spent Sunday morning sitting with E’s grandparents while others in the parish surrounded his parents and brothers to keep them from being alone. The funeral was very well-attended as E’s high school reunion had just happened and his classmates were the honorary pallbearers. The women’s groups from the two churches in the parish made all the food for the funeral lunch, and everyone left well-fed. I still remember all of it 17 ½ years later, and it remains one of the better memories I have of that parish.

Lord, you tell us that those who mourn are blessed for they will be comforted. Help us to walk alongside those who are grieving to lighten their load and help them to not feel alone. Amen.
-Jen McCabe

Read: John 11:1-45

Going through the illness and death of loved ones is one of life’s greatest challenges. Although we know intellectually that all persons eventually die, we somehow expect that we may escape the agony of losing a relative or close friend. However we may prepare, we are hit with inescapable tears and emptiness. When a death happens in your life (and it will, it has not yet), remember that God loves you and will provide all of the tools you need in mourning.

Father, thank you for everything You’ve given me in the relationship with this loved one on earth, and thank you for the greatest gift of all, looking forward to being with them and You in heaven for all eternity.
-Barb Cheyney