'If you give your life for the sake of the Gospel, you’ll find it.’ - May 15
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 80; PM Psalm 77, [79]; Deut. 8:1-10; James 1:1-15; Luke 9:18-27
“Be Jesus people rather than get too involved with churchy things. Be happy without having all the answers. And I keep coming back to Jesus saying, ‘If you seek your life, you lose it. But if you give your life for the sake of the Gospel, you’ll find it.’ Love your neighbor. Pretty simple.” – the Rev. Doug Carpenter. These are words from the end of an interview with Doug Carpenter. In the upcoming Saint Magazine, I get a chance to walk with both Doug and the Rt. Rev. Russell Kendrick about their time at Saint Stephen’s, what they learned about their own calling, and how Saint Stephen’s has shaped their own lives and understanding of God. Our magazine team pulled this quote, and it takes up the entirety of page six. I can’t wait for you to be able to read the whole story.
Could it really be this simple? Don’t seek your life, but give it? This is the theme of our Gospel appointed for today.
On Saturday, in the busiest month of the year, in a season of graduations and championships, with more to do than seems rationally possible, we welcomed several hundred people into the Parish Hall to package 50,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger. A loud 70s Dance Party playlist thumped through the speakers with a gong being hit every few minutes to signify one thousand meals being packaged. Young children ran around the space handing off bags and supplies. It was the most unselfish moment I’ve experienced in a long time. No one took home anything, no prizes were earned, no names were mentioned, only a sense of being a part of community and what we find when we give of ourselves.
Around 1:30 p.m., we began winding up the day. Our supplies of vitamin packages and the bags that contain soy, rice, and vegetables were dwindling. When the final gong was struck, we had packaged 49,900 meals. We couldn’t find the last stack of bags which we later learned had been moved under a box and weren’t discovered until everything had been put up. 49,900 – exactly 0.2% from the completion of our goal. We had been telling people for months that we would package 50,000 meals and now, there was no chance of our goal being met.
Maybe 49,900 is the perfect number, a reminder of our own imperfection. It could not have been a more beautiful Saturday, a day filled with imperfect people giving of themselves for the sake of the Gospel, and in the process finding life. Nothing’s perfect in this world, but it sure is beautiful when we follow Jesus. Maybe it really is that simple.
John+
Questions for Self-Reflection: Can you think back to moments when you have tried to find your life and felt lost? What about times when you have given so much that you have found life?
Daily Challenge: Pick one area where you could lend a hand. Send an email to the Rev. Dr. Becky Bridges, our Associate Rector for Formation and Outreach if you need help finding an area to serve.