West Suffield Congregational Church
1408 Mountain Rd.
West Suffield, CT 06093
office@westsuffielducc.org
860-668-2271
  • Home
    • About Us
    • Staff
  • News & Events
    • Weekly Word
    • Calendar
    • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Ministries
    • Crossroads Food Pantry and Foodshare Truck
    • Interfaith Commitment
    • Outreach to those in need
    • Scout Sponsorships
    • United Church of Christ
    • CT Conference UCC
  • Stewardship
    • Painless Giving

Fear and Love

3/12/2015

Comments

 
Picture
"Love the Lord your God...Love your neighbor as yourself" ~ Mark 12:30-31 

What are you afraid of? We all have fears. Some of them very real and some of them irrational, but I have yet to meet or hear of anyone who was truly fearless. I even think, as he crouched in the garden - head bowed and knee bent - praying to God, that Jesus was afraid of what was to come: the betrayal, the denial, the abandonment by his followers and friends, the turning of the crowds, the whips, the nails and the cross. Jesus was no idiot- he was afraid too.
On the Tuesday of Holy Week the religious leaders were afraid. Afraid of losing their power and privilege, afraid of having their hypocrisy revealed, afraid of change, afraid of the end of all things, afraid of the crowds and rebellion. Jesus does not respond to their fears with ridicule, but with love. While we often cal these the two great commandments- there are actually three here: 1) Love God, 2) Love you neighbor 3) Love yourself. Jesus responded to their fear with love.  Even when Jesus was afraid he did not let his fear control him to be vengeful, violent or to strike out at those who persecuted him. Love may not make our fears go away, but when we respond out of love and not out of fear - as Jesus would do even unto death on the cross - we find that love always wins. 
~Pastor Eric

Comments

    Archives

    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014

    Categories

    All
    Book Discussion
    Sermon
    Weekly Word

    PULPIT FICTION

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.