Lenten Devotions in Hard Economic Times

THIRTY-SEVENTH DAY OF LENT 
                     MARCH 31
  
 John 12: 24 
 
 
Very truly I tell you,
unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,
it remains just a single grain;
but if it dies it bears much fruit.
 
Free fall,
Into the earth,
Not for safe-keeping or storage,
But to burst forth
Beyond a single-serving containment package,
Into plenty,
For the nurture of many.
 
Free fall,
Falling freely,
Of one’s own will and willingness,
Into the open arms of
The soil and substance
Of the Source of Life.
 
Live as I have lived, Jesus urges,
Die as I will die, Jesus encourages,
Collide with the mighty,
Collude with the needy,
In league and in love
With this hodgepodge humanity.
 
Live as I have lived, Jesus urges,
Die as I will die, Jesus encourages,
Witness to
Strength in weakness,
Wisdom in foolishness,
Victory in defeat,
Life in the barren caverns of death,
The triumph of powerless love
Over loveless power.
 

John cited from New Revised Standard Version
phrase "powerless love over loveless power" from William Sloan Coffin
 commentary in italic