John 16:25–33, February 28, 2025 (Friday)

John 16:33 "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

A Night at Church and a Wandering Cat

Last night, the church office became my sanctuary as hours slipped away unnoticed. The familiar rhythm of ministry work enveloped me, and tasks flowed one into another until I suddenly realized darkness had claimed the world outside. As I finally stepped through the doors into the night air, a silent companion greeted me—a solitary cat, wandering the church grounds with quiet curiosity. It seems we must expand the Yeolin Church's unofficial wildlife registry. Our growing congregation of non-human visitors now includes the elegant deer that graze at dawn, coyotes that howl in distant hills, darting geckos that warm themselves on sun-soaked walls, mysterious cats on midnight prowls, and various small creatures that scurry about (I'll graciously refrain from calling them "rats" 😊).

The relocation of our church to Orinda has placed us in a landscape still unfolding before us. Houses nestle among the hills like scattered seeds, creating an illusion of tranquility that belies the surprising bustle of traffic flowing through town. Beyond these initial observations lies a tapestry of community life we have yet to fully witness and understand. Wisdom suggests that truly knowing a place requires three full cycles of seasons, and we haven't yet marked our first year here. Our roots are still seeking depth in this soil, our branches still learning which way the wind blows in this new corner of God's garden.

An Application for English Ministry & Church's Upcoming 40th Anniversary

Yesterday marked a significant step forward as I submitted our application for English ministry to the annual conference. The path ahead unfolds quickly—March 10 will bring our presentation to the cabinet, and by April, new directions will crystallize into decisions. The accelerated timeline suggests our church calendar will soon fill with purposeful activity and holy anticipation.

The day brightened unexpectedly when brother, Park Byung-Jun appeared at the church door. Such spontaneous visits from members of our faith family always bring joy! I believe he may have been our first weekday visitor, and I find myself wishing I had honored the moment with the simple hospitality of tea. Our brief conversation touched upon next year's milestone—our church's 40th anniversary. Perhaps it was this convergence of new possibilities and cherished traditions that kept me working long after sunset, lost in the sacred labor of tending to our community's journey.

Overcoming Fear with Courage

To begin anew, to build life from possibility, to examine each step with care—these endeavors never come without cost. Along such paths, we inevitably encounter the full spectrum of human emotion. Today's passage from John speaks directly to fear, that faithful companion of change and growth. As always, Jesus meets the anxious hearts of the Johannine community with words that reach across centuries to comfort us as well:

• "In me, you will have peace."

• "In this world, you will have trouble."

• "But take heart!"

• "I have overcome the world."

Among these treasured assurances, today we are called to embrace "Take heart!" and the profound declaration: "I have overcome the world."

When Jesus proclaims His victory over the world, He speaks not of conquest through might, but of liberation through love. His overcoming means we need not be crushed beneath the weight of tribulations and fear that press upon us. We must hold close the truth that "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son." Through this divine lens, we see how facing tribulations with courage leads us toward peace, and Jesus' gentle command—"Take heart!"—illuminates the way forward.

So today, I offer you the same words that have sustained saints through ages: "Take heart!"

Reflection

Having courage means protecting peace within our hearts despite the overwhelming emotions that come our way.

Intercessory Prayer Requests

• This Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday. Please pray for a grace-filled worship service.

• Let us remember those who have not been seen at church for a while and reach out to them with heartfelt love and care.