Please join us for the Sunday Service at 10 am.  Sunday School runs during the service.  Coffee and visiting is offered after the service.

Here are Rev. Marlene’s  thoughts on the upcoming sermon.

“For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”John18: 37

The Gospel of John presents a stark contrast between earthly kings, and the divine kingship of Jesus.  Previously, in John’s Gospel, those who called Jesus a king fell far short of the reality of Christ’s identity, because they were expecting a Messiah to establish his reign and restore the kingdom of Israel through military force.  They failed to recognize Jesus’ true messianic kingship, because they could not see beyond their own expectations.

Pilate also struggles to understand if Jesus is truly a king.  Pilate’s confusion arises because Jesus’ description of his kingdom exceeds Pilate’s comprehension.  Jesus insists that his kingdom is not of the world and, for Pilate, the world is the only possible realm for reigning as king.  He does not recognize that Jesus’ kingdom belongs to the heavenly realm.  Like the other people in John’s Gospel, Pilate cannot see who Jesus truly is, because Jesus’ kingship goes beyond what Pilate could conceive.

Furthermore, Jesus’ kingship encompasses all of humanity, since the invitation to join him in his kingdom is open to all. It requires listening to Christ’s voice, as the sheep heed the voice of the shepherd. By doing so, they recognize the truth Jesus testifies to, and are drawn into the truth that through Baptism, we receive the new spiritual life that makes us children of God and heirs to the kingdom.

Today’s reading reminds us that as heirs of the kingdom, we, too, are not of this world.  During our earthly life, we remain a part of the world, otherwise we cannot spread the Good News effectively.  Yet, at the same time, we should keep in mind that we work for a kingdom that transcends earthly concerns, and for a king who willingly shed his blood that we might live.