Surrendering to Abundance

John 5: 25-29

“Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; and he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”

In this season of Lent, we seek to give up those things which are not life-giving or keep us from a deeper relationship with God and God’s creation. We desire renewal through forgiveness, and healing after being broken open.

Jesus as life-giver and Judge comes in this time where we seek so much after self-reflection. This authority confronts us, just as we are about to spiral out of control with shame, self-doubt, and feelings of unworthiness. We await resurrection and can be lulled into a false sense of barrenness, with no hope of healing or forgiveness.

Jesus as life-giver, raising the dead, and judge rescues us from our frail human condition. We die to ourselves and that which separates us from right relationship with God and one another and are raised by a life-giving Savior. We seek forgiveness from the one who will judge with God’s justice, where we are not condemned but broken open to receive mercy and grace.

This abundant grace, mercy, love, and healing abides with us in this season and for all time. It is not contained to a specific time of year or liturgical season. It is not meant for a select group of people, because the abundance of God in Christ Jesus is meant for the whole world regardless of whether we deem someone worthy or not.

So here we are, overwhelmed by God’s abundance in a time of self-reflection and accounting for our sins and shortcomings. We surrender ourselves, our souls, and bodies to the glory of God. We surrender to God the life-giver so that we might receive abundant life, and we surrender to God the judge to seek forgiveness and mercy. We are worthy of God’s abundance. It is in this time we receive that Good News and seek to serve the one whom God sent into the world as life giver and judge, our Savior Jesus Christ.

prayer

O Lord our God, you sustained your ancient people in the wilderness with bread from heaven: Feed now your pilgrim flock with the food that endures to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.