Theme of the Week: Following Jesus
Bible Verse: “Then the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, with terrifying power, and with signs and wonders.” Deuteronomy 26:8 CSB
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 26:1-11
We often like to know the end from the beginning. Some folks will turn to the final pages of a mystery novel to find out “Who dunnit?” right away, so they can follow the character through the plot of the story. In the bigger picture of life, we would all like to know “how it ends” for us. But this is a mystery, unknown through all our years. We do not and cannot know how our life will end as we move along. That is reserved for the final chapter of our life’s story.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer encourages us to recognize, as disciples of Jesus Christ, that Christ knows our journey’s end. He sees our destination and guides us along the way, pointing us, helping us, supporting us. Through it all, Christ offers mercy and forgiveness for our sins and failures, for what we have done and what we have left undone. Bonhoeffer says Christ’s mercy is boundless. We can face any future, secure in Christ’s mercy. This is our great need—and what Jesus gives us.
So no wonder, as Bonhoeffer notes, “discipleship means joy.” It is the joy of life lived to the fullest in service to Christ. It is lived in freedom to love and help others, to extend Christ’s mercy, and to find the true life Christ came to bring. As we respond to the call to follow Jesus, our joy will be everlasting.
Reflection: Biblical faith is, above all, faith in a God who reveals himself through historical events, a God who saves in history. —Gustavo Gutiérrez 1
Action Step: Reflect on times when God has “saved” you
Taken from Living into Lent
1 Gustavo Gutiérrez, Theology of Liberation
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