Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
Our Gospel passage from John 16:23-33 shows a sharp contrast between the attitude of Jesus’ disciples and the honest evaluation Jesus makes of them. Jesus gives them great encouragement. The time is coming when the discipoles will ask things boldly in Jesus’ name. They will not need to fear, because they have trusted Jesus and God’s love is upon them. This is excellent hope. The disciples affirm that they do believe in God really well. Everything should work out fine if this is the case. However, Jesus tells them they will be scattered in a time of tribulation. The opposition will come and they will flee.
I hope our intentions are as good as those of the disciples. But what I know is that Jesus’ evaluation is right and true. When opposition comes, God’s people tend to scatter and flee. Yet his promise is also good. He will not lose his people. We may be ready to flee, but he has given us His name and his promises. We can rely on him.When we need something, we can ask it without fear. So when trouble comes, we ask him to keep us safe and secure in His name. There we can have confidence.
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