Reflection for Sunday – August 30, 2026

Readings: Jeremiah 20:7-9; Roman’s 12:1-2: Matthew 16:21-27 
Preacher: Sue Reed

When I first looked at the readings for this weekend, I laughed.  The opening line from Jeremiah “You duped me O Lord, and I let myself be duped….” seemed to sum up my own relationship with God.

Throughout my life, I have experienced moments when God’s call was impossible to ignore, even when I fought against it.   Like Jeremiah, “it becomes like fire burning in my heart.”  For me, this is what being a follower of God is—responding to that fire in my heart.  Though there have been and will continue to be times when I would prefer to ignore God, there is a burning inside of me that keeps calling me back.  In today’s Psalm we sing the refrain, “My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God” and that’s why we can’t just ignore God.   We thirst for God’s presence in our life.  Thirsting is more than just wanting— it’s needing something to survive, to continue living. 

Many, if not most, of us we respond to that deep desire by becoming part of a faith community. There you are surrounded and supported by people of like minds (in most cases) and are regularly reminded of God’s presence in our lives.  Even if you are not part of an organized community, you are aware of God’s presence and love for you.  You find other ways to connect with the divine.  That thirst in you has been satisfied.  Life is good!

But, as Paul in his letter to the Romans, and Jesus in conversation with the apostles warns us, we will face obstacles in our faithfulness to God’s call to us.   Paul warns, “Do not conform yourselves to this age” and Jesus calls Peter “Satan” for not understanding and accepting that he, Jesus, must suffer and die.  

Being a follower of Jesus/of God is not an easy road.   There are so many things that can interfere and cause us to question our beliefs, to question God’s very existence.  The cost of discipleship is very high.  Jesus is very honest about this when he tells the disciples that to follow him—to quench that thirst that lies within you— “deny yourself, take up the cross and follow me.” 

In the 1990s, a youth minister in Minnesota was trying to help her teens understand what “taking up your cross” meant in their real lives.  The teens made bracelets with the letters “WWJD” on them.   This was to remind them to choose as Jesus would, not as the world might.   The acronym WWJD was based on a book written in 1896 by Charles Sheldon (In His Steps; What Would Jesus Do?).  Through a twist of fate, the copyright for the novel was never established and therefore multiple publishers sold the book.  It sold over 30 million copies worldwide, making it one of the top 50 best-selling novels ever.  The phrase “What Would Jesus Do” (WWJD) continues to help and guide us in our journey as a follower of Christ.  

WWJD when people in your own community do not have adequate food, housing, and health care?

WWJD when your friends encourage you to participate in life-endangering practices?

WWJD when faced with a diagnosis of cancer or some other life-threatening illness or condition?

WWJD when a loved one is seriously injured or killed because of someone else’s carelessness, anger, or ignorance?

WWJD when aging gradually takes away your freedom, abilities, and independence?

WWJD when you and your neighbors have drastically different political stances?

WWJD when the government acts in ways that endanger, hurt, and kill millions of people?

WWJD when you feel alone, hopeless, and empty?

It is easy to give up when facing these kind of moments— to feel as Jeremiah did, that he was fighting a losing battle; but he and the Psalmist remind us that there is a burning in our soul to answer God’s call; that we are thirsting for God’s presence in our lives.   We are reminded by Paul and Jesus, that it is not a smooth and easy road but one filled with obstacles and challenges—all of which allow us to be one with God for eternity.  The final line of the Gospel gives us the hope and strength to be faithful while carrying our crosses: “For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay all according to his conduct.” 

May we all be granted that hope and strength.