Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” - Matthew 20:17-19
Dear Jesus,
You knew that in only two or three weeks your earthly life would come to an end. But you didn't let the stress of knowing the road ahead render you ineffective. No, the love and spiritual perfection you possessed made you live one moment at a time to the fullest. So, you loved and taught and served in the moment, even though the end was near. Help me to live the moment today too. They are saying we have to stay at home for a month and that we will have gloomy, rainy weather for a week. All this during the highest season of the church has me bummed. I want to sulk about it, but then I see you were living to the fullest when you had death on the horizon, I am goaded to live today to the fullest like you. Walk with me and help me use this seclusion under a cloud for the good of my fellow humans and for your glory.
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
Nothing yesterday or tomorrow can affect today unless you let it.