"Learning To... " is led by Pastor Carolyn Hetrick and Pastor Scott Schul of Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA. Each week features breath prayer, a passage from scripture, music and reflection before sending you out with grace. Today we are "Learning to See." We are not given the gospel, God’s good news, as a way to avoid mortality or loss. Jesus is predicting his own death, which is overwhelming to consider, but Jesus also challenges us to ask: Are there ways we love our life so much we fail to see the harm it does to others? Are there ways in which we should let our way “die” so something new can come to life? Where do we need to see Jesus?
Today's scripture: John 12:20-26
Today's music:
"Air Andante," a public domain 'air' part of a Baroque-era collection called "Select Aires or Duets for 2 German Flutes and a German Flute and Bass by Handel and other authors," published during their lifetime by John Walsh. www.imslp.org. Laurel Sanders, flute.
"Moonlight Sonata," public domain by Ludwig van Beethoven. Laura Pauley, piano.
To learn more about our ministries at Grace Lutheran Church, visit glcpa.org.
“Learning to…” Weekly podcast for Lent, 2024 Episode 5
PC:Welcome to Pocketful of Grace, I’m Pastor Carolyn Hetrick of Grace Lutheran Church in State College Pennsylvania
PS: And I’m Pastor Scott Schul. This Lent we are focusing upon words from Psalm 25 “Lead me in your truth and teach me your paths.” And so, remembering Jesus loves us, we come to God knowing there are always things we can learn to embrace as we follow our Lord.
PC: Before we go on, let’s breathe. Today we will take the first part of the psalm “lead me in your truth” as we breath in and then say “Help me see” as we breath out. We will do that three times.
Now we are here to check in with God as we navigate our world and faith journey. Our daily lives can be messy and beautiful and full of conflicting messages, maybe even places we or the world are hurting and where we need to see Jesus. Take a moment and tell God about it.
(Music)
PS: Today’ s reading comes to us from the gospel of John, chapter 12, verses 20-26:
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew, then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain, but if it dies it bears much fruit. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
PC: Today our episode is entitled, “Learning to See.” We are not given the gospel, God’s good news, as a way to avoid mortality or loss. Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem in the procession we will remember on Palm Sunday, which was the time leading up to the Passover. It is a crowded place with a buzz of excitement and so much to see. If it is hard for us to hear Jesus’ words, imagine what is was like for his disciples.
They surely do not want to hear talk about death or hating their way of life. Sometimes Jesus’ truth is hard to hold.
Jesus of course is predicting his own death here, which is overwhelming to consider, but Jesus also challenges us to ask:
Are there ways we love our life so much we fail to see the harm it does to others? Are there ways in which we should let our way “die” so something new can come to life?
(MUSIC to reflect)
PS: Let’s listen to the reading again and this time, let’s just focus upon those who have come to see Jesus. We hear that they are Greeks which means they are not believers in even one god, much less the God of Scripture.
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew, then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
We live in a world where not everyone follows Jesus, or even professes any religion. And yet we live in a world where people are curious and hurting. Many have had experiences that are negative when it comes to church, or have heard people who claim to follow Jesus but are quicker to judge than to love. Can we be open to meeting people where they are and helping them to see Jesus as we do?
Jesus tells his followers that his time had come to be glorified. For Jesus this does not mean winning a war of words, nor does it mean winning a war by showing might. Glory, for Jesus, will be about loving even if it takes everything he has to give. Jesus will love like this to show us the love we need. This is a love we continue to learn. Let’s take a moment to reflect:
Where are you and the world are hurting?
Where do you wish to see Jesus?
Take these and whatever else has arisen for you and bring it to Jesus in prayer.
MUSIC
We’ll close with our breath prayer, breathing in, “You love us” and this time as we breathe out we will say, “Help me see.” We’ll do that 3 times.
And if you stick around after the closing music there is information about Lent here at Grace.
Take care, beloveds.
OUTRO: Join us each week for another episode of “Learning to…” through the week of Easter. Next week we will be “Learning to Give Ourselves Away.”
Save the date for March 20th at 6:15 pm. We’re hosting an Ecumenical Music event called “Songs of Our Times” with choral, handbell and instrumental music.
And remember we offer Weekly Wednesday Worship in Lent at 12:15 and 6:15. If you come in the evening why not join us for dinner at 5:15? Use the main entrance and head downstair to our Harkins Fellowship Hall.
Our Sunday worship is at 8, 9 and 10:30 am in person. You can also listen to our 10:30 service on the radio at Bigfoot Country Legends
Or Watch our 10:30 service live or later via our 10:30 livestream, just go to our website, glcpa.org and click “WATCH.”
Check out glcpa.org for all our worship and activities and you can download our free glcpa app to have Grace on the Go wherever your journey takes you.