Wednesday Yr B Sunday between 3 – 9 July
Daily readings: Jeremiah 16:14-21 John 7:1-9, Psa 119:81-88
John 7:1-9 (New International Version)
1After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. 2But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, 3Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. 4No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5For even his own brothers did not believe in him. 6Therefore Jesus told them, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. 7The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. 8You go to the Feast. I am not yet[a] going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come.” 9Having said this, he stayed in Galilee.
“Dad?” Elizabeth looked up as he entered.
“What can I do you for?”
“My school political group wants to do a project a project for city hall.”
“That sounds good.” Her dad peered over his glasses. “What are you going to do, do you know?”
Her brothers, Manny and Peter walked in, tossing a football between them.
“What’s up?” Manny asked.
“Our school political group wants to do a project for city hall.” Elizabeth replied.
“That sounds good. It’ll look good on your school entrance forms.” Peter grinned and winked.
“I’m in a quandary. They want to work for the mayor’s office, but he was convicted for misusing the law.”
“Why does that matter? Work for a government organization—that would look good on your college submission. Besides, he’s in the appeals process.”
“Dad, I’m not doing it to look good on my school entrance submission and I don’t like working for someone who has no integrity.”
“Get with the program, kiddo.” Manny rested his hand on her shoulder. “You can’t worry about what others are doing. You can just say you worked for the Mayor’s office. It’ll look good and no one has to know about his criminal behavior. You’ve got to make everything you do count for something. The competition is too great. Just yesterday, Stan told me he wasn’t accepted at his first pick school. His resume wasn’t strong enough.”
“I think I can trust God to help me go to the right school.” Elizabeth hesitated. “I know you don’t agree with my going to church, but I believe the thing to do is to live by doing the right thing and not aligning myself with those who would do wrong.”
“Honey, we want you to be successful.” her dad squeezed her shoulders.
“I know you want the best for me, but I know that I can’t work for someone who cheats.”
“You’re absolutely certain about this?” Her dad paused, “Did you suggest to the group about working for someone else?”
“Yeah, I did.” She replied. “But the mayor’s office is the only place that has offered a chance for after hour school projects.”
“Sis, don’t be an idiot. You have goals and if you’re not going to do what is required, you won’t achieve them.” Peter asserted. “Just be quiet about the stuff that’s bad and put yourself forward where you can look good.”
“I feel so uncomfortable with the decision of my political group, I don’t think I can do it.” Elizabeth braced her shoulders. “We see it differently, that’s all.”
“Well, different is not always bad,” her father said, “but, I agree with your brothers that it will look fine and what we think the good schools will demand.”
Her brothers headed for the kitchen for a snack and her dad turned back to his work.
“I’m biking to youth group.” Elizabeth gathered her things and put on a bike helmet.
At the youth meeting, she shared her struggle with her family’s opinion of the work project and what she should do. Pat, the youth leader, opened his Bible to John 7 and read the story of Jesus’ brothers not thinking that Jesus was making the right choice for his ‘career path’. “It’s very similar to what you experienced. His brothers thought he was wrong. They suggested what they thought were better ideas, but Jesus was respectful and followed what he knew was the right thing to do.”
Pat closed his Bible and offered his hands for a prayer circle. The kids joined him as he prayed for Elizabeth and her family. When they finished, he added. “Let’s pass the peace.”
“What’s that?” one of the kids asked.
“We each greet another and ask that God blesses the receiver with peace that can only come from the Holy Spirit. We usually form a circle and number off: odd numbers walk around the circle clockwise and evens counter-clockwise. That way, everyone gives and receives a blessing.”
Elizabeth went home; her head was full of the prayers of blessing that had been said. Her smile beamed confidence that all would work out well.
Prayer for the day: Almighty God, sovereign over all, we are grateful that you love us and listen to our prayers. Forgive our failure to seek your counsel. Forgive our disobedience. Help us in our choices to do what is right and to succeed in all we do that we may give you the praise and glory. In Jesus name, Amen.
Memorize: 6Therefore Jesus told them, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. 7The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.
