Day 259
Wednesday, May 17, 2023

https://kuc.org/wp-content/uploads/259-365.jpg

Scripture
Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. —Matthew 14:24–25

Wisdom
Our fear of suffering and death robs us of life, because fear of death always turns into fear of life, into a stingy, cautious way of living that is not really living at all. The deep secret of Jesus’ hard words is that the way to have abundant life is not to save it but to spend it, to give it away, because life cannot be shut up and saved any more than a bird can be put in a shoebox and stored on a closet shelf. Life cannot be shut up and saved anymore than fresh water can be put in a mason jar and kept in a kitchen cupboard.  — Barbara Brown Taylor, Risking Life

Prayer
When we would rather hide away, open us up to the generosity possible at the fragile edge of following Christ and living life to the fullest. Amen. —The Reverend Dr. Katie Snipes Lancaster