Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. – John 12:27

Today’s Scripture Reading (October 1, 2014): John 12

Benjamin Franklin is thought to have said – at least the saying is commonly attributed to him - that “the Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.” Yet our history would seem to sometimes argue against us even possessing the right to chase after happiness. One hundred years ago the early battles of the First World War – The War to End All Wars – were being fought. It was war on a scale that we had really never imagined possible before this time. During August and September of 1914 the nations of the world seemed to be choosing sides and declaring war on each other (originally the United States remained effectively neutral, but German attacks on British shipping brought the United States to the defense of the United Kingdom in April 1917 – ad they responded faster than the Germans believed that they would and effectively tipped the scale the Central Powers). But by October 1914, the battles were being fought and the nations of the World were actively trying to figure out what would happen next – and wondering if it was ever possible that they had the right to pursue happiness.

Throughout the 20^th Century, the one truth seemed to be that some sacrificed their right to happiness in order to give others the right to pursue it. All together there were more than thirty major wars and conflicts during the last century of the second millennium of the common era, and five (the Boxer Rebellion, the Boer War, the Russo-Japanese War, the Mexican Revolution, and the First and Second Balkan Wars) conflicts began, and with the exception of the Mexican Revolution, were completed before the First World War even started. The 20^th century could have been characterized as the century of war. It could also be characterized as the century of sacrifice.    

With the hour of his death approaching, Jesus becomes introspective about the future. Once more he tells those closest to him that he will die, but he also asks this question – “what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’?” The question is really this; do I have the right to pursue my own happiness? Can I step away from the present circumstances of my life and make an effort to catch the happiness that every person in the world desires? But Jesus also knew the answer. No. It is for this purpose that I have come. My job was never to pursue happiness. My job was to pursue people and give creation the possibility of restoration – even if it cost me the happiness that most seek.

As much as I hate to admit it, the purpose of the Christian Church follows that of its master. Our purpose has never been to pursue happiness. Our purpose is to be a force in the restoration of the world. We are to be the change agent this word needs in order to make the world a better place. It is a mission that we can’t let go off. The fate world is depending on us.   

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Matthew 22