A Message from Pastor Kaji

The inquisitor in our text this week asks questions I’m always asking, of God. What’s most important? 

His words are: teacher: what must I do to inherit eternal life? 

Personally, I’m less anxious about the question of eternal life than I am of where I should put my energy. I’m not saying I should be. But…maybe you can relate?

Thankfully, Jesus gives an answer. I would argue that this isn’t just *an* answer, but it’s *the* answer. 

Join us this Sunday as we explore this. And please join us immediately after worship for our open Ministry Council meeting! Our elected church leaders will join me in leading an honest (and exciting!) conversation about where we are in moving forward with our strategic plan. 

After this Sunday, we will begin our summer worship schedule with abbreviated worship but full community. Our staff and I are in the process – as we speak – of creating meaningful in person worship while I start our annual season of my time in the pulpit but not in person. From July 21-September 1, I will join you for a summer sermon series called “God Is” through pre-recorded reflections designed to open up conversation. Though I haven’t experienced it in person personally, my understanding is that these table-based worship experiences led by our Elders and Deacons are much-beloved! So I thank these spiritual leaders in advance as I prepare for this time off. 

We plan to return to our program year worship on Sunday, September 8. I cannot wait to see you then. Meanwhile, I hope to see you next Sunday!

Pax Christi,

Pastor Kaji

SCRIPTURE
Mark 10:17–31 (Year B, p. 232-3):

17 As Jesus went out the road a person ran to him and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do in order to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to the person, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 The commandments you know:

You shall not murder;

You shall not commit adultery;

You shall not steal;

You shall not bear false witness;

You shall not defraud;

Honor your mother and your father.”

20 Then the person said to him, “Teacher, all these have I kept from my youth.” 21 And then Jesus, looking at the person, loving them, said, “One thing you lack; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and come, follow me.” 22 Now the person was shocked at this word and went away grieving, for the person had many possessions.

23 Then looking around Jesus said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the majesty of God!” 24 And the disciples were astounded at these words. So Jesus spoke to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the majesty of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the majesty of God.” 26 And they were amazed all the more and said among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “For the woman-born it is impossible, but not for God; all things are possible for God.”

28 Peter began to speak to him, “Look! We have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly I tell all of you, there is no one who has left house or sisters or brothers or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age: houses, sisters and brothers [or friends and kin], mothers and children, and fields with persecutions and, in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”