Daily Reading
Daily Reflection
The process of a grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying in order to bring forth life makes perfect sense when we are understanding it in relation to agriculture. In fact, it may seem nurturing, because we enjoy the fruit that the seed bears. We benefit and survive on this very natural process. However, when Jesus uses this metaphor for human life, we begin to choke on this concept. What Jesus suggests is unnatural for us and sounds volatile. Jesus tells us we must "hate" our lives, hard words to stomach. The meaning behind such strong words is to disregard one's own life relative to Jesus' claims. In other words, we are challenged to put Jesus' claims on our lives before our own. Holy Week gives us the opportunity to reflect upon these claims that were not made out of selfish ambition or a power play, but rather out of immense love for us, because Jesus desires fruit for our lives (John 15:1-15), so that we may experience true life. This Lenten season what does it look like for you to "die" in order that the life of Jesus might be made more present in your life? And remember, we follow someone who went before us and sacrificed the ultimate, his life for ours.
Daily Worship Resources
Morning Readings: Psalm 71:1-14 > | Isaiah 49:1-7 >
Evening Readings: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 > | John 12:20-36 >
Other Resources
Read Introduction to the Lent Tradition >
Download pdf of entire Lent devotion >