5th week of Lent: I will because we love
We’ve released worship music videos with lyrics for each song on the “Speak Boldly” album by Jenny LaJoye. You can find these worship music videos on our Juniper Formation YouTube Channel, and more easily in this “Speak Boldly” YouTube Playlist.
Each week during our Lenten journey we will highlight a worship video and offer accompanying ritual, scripture, and prayer for you to engage at home by yourself, with your household, or in congregational worship.
Artist’s Songwriting Reflection
“Three Times” is my personal favorite song on the album. It speaks most honestly about my relationship to Christianity, particularly as a leader and a minister. I spend a lot of time asking myself the question, “why, oh why, are you still serving Christian communities?” I’ve experienced spiritual abuse as an employee of pastors who were more concerned with serving the patriarchy and the status quo than they were about listening to the most minoritized and marginalized among their congregation (including me, their token queer leader); I have very little remaining belief in the literal doctrines of Christianity; I have grown more and more disillusioned by the racist and patriarchal origins of American Christianity. I am tired. So why, oh why, am I still here?
John 21:1-19 starts to answer that question, and it’s what this song is about. I am Simon Peter. Jesus asks me three times if I love him. And I can come up with as many “yes, buts” as I want, but the simple answer to his simple question is: “yes.” Yes, I love you, so I will tend your sheep. Yes, I love you, so I will feed your lambs. Yes, I love you, so I will do the good work. Jesus doesn’t ask, “do you believe xyz…?” Jesus just asks, “do you love?” And if yes, then show up for the people. So this song is about saying “yes,” and showing up.
Scripture: John 21:1-19
After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to Simon, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast their net, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is Jesus!” When Simon Peter heard that it was Jesus, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea.
When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”
This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon said to Jesus, “Yes; you know that I love you.” Jesus then said, “Feed my lambs.” A second time Jesus said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Simon responded, “Yes; you know that I love you.” Jesus again said, “Tend my sheep.” For the third time, Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Now Simon Peter felt hurt because Jesus asked for a third time, and Simon said to him, “You know everything; you know that I love you.” And then Jesus said to Simon, “Feed my sheep, and follow me.”
“Three Times” Lyrics
It's easier to grieve,
to come to terms with all my deeds,
It's easier to hope again,
when I'm forgetting.
So I am going fishing.
This net has many holes,
far more than I recall,
and I can't seem to catch a thing.
I am empty.
Suddenly I hear you.
Could it be?
Could it be?
I'll jump into the sea,
to make up for everything.
Though I'm tired, I will tend your sheep.
Though I'm scared, I will feed your lambs.
I have walked away before,
so I'll say it one time more:
Though I'm weary, I will feed your sheep.
I'll meet you on the shore,
soaked and shaking like before.
I will share a meal with you,
like the last time,
like no time at all.
Is it you?
is it you?
If three times makes it true,
is it you I'm praying to?
Though I'm tired, I will tend your sheep.
Though I'm scared, I will feed your lambs.
I have walked away before,
so I'll say it one time more:
Though I'm weary, I will feed your sheep.
I will because I love you (3x)
I will because you love me (3x)
I will because we love (3x)
Though I'm tired, I will tend your sheep.
Though I'm scared, I will feed your lambs.
I have walked away before,
so I'll say it one time more:
Though I'm weary, I will feed your sheep.
Ritual: Make a Covenant in Love
There are not prayers or words enough this week. There is only action; love in action.
Where we fall short as Christians is in living out our faith, following Christ, feeding and tending to one another’s physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental needs. Loving one another, loving God, and loving our selves; this is all that is required, and yet, it is so difficult for us to follow.
This week we invite you to make a covenant in love. In the face of violence, death, desperation, fear, exhaustion, and anger—turn to love.
As you listen to “Three Times” (see video above) enter into a covenant ritual between you and God, others in your life, and your communities. You can write out your own covenant, and use the following prompts if you find them useful:
Though I'm tired, I will_______.
Though I'm scared, I will _______.
I have walked away before, so I'll say it one time more,
Though I'm weary, I will ________.
I will because______.
Reflective Invitation
We invite you to journey through Lent by drawing closer to God and one another by deepening your spiritual practices and awareness.
- What behaviors get in the way of loving more deeply? How will you release these behaviors to free yourself to love?
- What actions will you take to love more deeply those close to you, your neighbors, those on the margins, those whom you don’t know or understand?
May it be so.
Blessing
May you grieve, may you be tired and scared, and may you feel angry, empty, and powerless;
And also,
May you know love,
May you show love,
And by the power of the Holy Spirit, may you be love.
Amen.
Support the artist and buy the “Speak Boldly” album online, here.
We invite you to make an offering today. An offering is a way we share with one another in support of the whole, and as a loving act of co-creating a new way of being together and with God as we prophetically reimagine the Church.
For all of the ways you give your spirit, heart, gifts, talents, and resources, we thank you.
