Love:Walking - Podcast Day 3 Deeper GuideDaria Nardozza - 27 Mar 2013

Isn't it weird how weird we get about God!?

Reflect

Bible Verse: John 12:12-19 (MSG)

“The next day the huge crowd that had arrived for the Feast heard that Jesus was entering Jerusalem. They broke off palm branches and went out to meet him. And they cheered: Hosanna!  Blessed is he who comes in God’s name!  Yes! The King of Israel!  Jesus got a young donkey and rode it, just as the Scripture has it: No fear, Daughter Zion: See how your king comes, riding a donkey’s colt. The disciples didn’t notice the fulfillment of many Scriptures at the time, but after Jesus was glorified, they remembered that what was written about him matched what was done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, was there giving eyewitness accounts. It was because they had spread the word of this latest God-sign that the crowd swelled to a welcoming parade. The Pharisees took one look and threw up their hands: “It’s out of control. The world’s in a stampede after him.”

"It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won’t stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted in pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days"

Annie Dillard (Pilgrim at Tinker Creek)

The account of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry is recorded in all four gospels. Hearing of His coming, the crowd left the Holy City to go meet him, cheering for Jesus, the King of Israel, as he enters Jerusalem. On top of this, he enters on a donkey; something a king of that time would never do. Although Jesus did perform some extraordinary miracles, here he meets with people in a very ordinary way. How does one find Jesus in the simple, everyday life?

Respond

Brother Lawrence, a seventeenth century monk from France, got to a point in his life where no matter what he was doing, he was experiencing God’s presence. Whether he was working in the kitchen or saying his prayers, he learned to practice the presence of God. He said, “There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God; those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it.”

Today, practice being in God’s presence. As Pete discussed and Annie Dillard’s quote says, look for the pennies all around you and actually stop to pick them up. Experience God in everything that you do today and thank him for being in your everyday life. If it helps, try wearing something on your hand/wrist to remind you of this practice as you go about your day.  

Pray

Jesus, would you help me to see you today in the ordinary things in my life.
Help me to see the benevolence of your presence all around. 

Amen