Hi, my name is Val Hernley and I am part of the Farmington Square Home
Group. I’m a grad student in aerospace engineering at Notre Dame. I
love to cook and believe food has a special way of bringing people
together. (I can’t wait until we can share meals in community again!).

• Today we read about a special meal Jesus had with his disciples – the Last Supper. It’s found in Matthew 26:17-30. Take a moment to read and reflect on the scripture.

It’s interesting to me that Jesus didn’t beat around the bush, but rather
brings up the hard conversation that one of his closest friends is going
to betray him. If I were Jesus, I would have been tempted to just avoid
the hard stuff and enjoy my final meal with the disciples.

• Are there hard things in your life that you are avoiding rather than approaching them with grace and truth as Jesus did? Where might God be calling you to have a hard conversation or take action?

Directly after this conversation of betrayal, Jesus gives his disciples a
tangible reminder of his outrageous grace. By breaking the bread (which
is his body) and pouring the wine (which is his blood poured out for our
sins), he prophesies of his death and the atoning power of his blood.
Note that even Judas partakes of the meal – God’s grace is extended to
everyone, even the worst of sinners. Sadly, Judas chose not to receive
this amazing gift. Just as we have been forgiven, God also calls us to
extend forgiveness to those around us (see Ephesians 4:32).

• In what ways are you withholding grace/forgiveness from others? Or are there areas of your own life where you need to receive more of God’s grace?

Take a moment to rest in the amazing grace of God and praise him that
Jesus’s blood covers all our sins!

Hi! I am Preethi Mathew and I am a part of the Roeders’ Farmington
Square Home Group. I am from South India, and I am in the third year
of my PhD program at Notre Dame. I have been coming to Riverside for
about two years now.

• The passage we’ll look at today is Matthew 26 :1-16.

I have always found it hard to believe that Judas could betray Jesus after
walking with him for 3.5 years. It is interesting how Matthew mentions
this right after talking about what the woman did for Jesus (the woman
is thought to be Mary—Martha, and Lazarus’ sister). She came to the
house of Simon the leper, who would have been considered unclean
by the Jews and she spent a lot of money in getting oil for Jesus. Judas
was concerned about what he will get by giving Jesus over to the high
priests. Short term, it seemed like the woman suffered a loss while
Judas made a profit. But we know from the rest of the story that what
seemed like profit to Judas, ended up taking his life.

Ponder this question as you reflect on today’s readings:

• Are we like the woman, ready to give everything to Jesus or are we like Judas, concerned about what profit Jesus will make for us?

Hi, brothers and sisters! My name is Diedra Barrett, and I enjoy the
fellowship of the North by Northwest Home Group; being a part of
Riverside is a great blessing. I moved to South Bend three years ago
to help my daughter and grandchildren, although this is not my first
time residing in Indiana; I originally moved to Granger with my family
in 1999, living in the area for 10 years! As my social media profile states,
[I’m] “Always growing, always learning. Love God, my family, and
most people (haha). Most happy when being loved, loving others, and
creating.”

• In today’s devotional we’re completing Matthew 25. Please read Matthew 25:31-46 with me about Sheep and Goats.

This passage, for me, has both glorious and terrible aspects. First, Jesus,
as King of Kings, coming in magnificent glory to sit on His throne with
(what I think will be) millions of angels! Can you imagine it?! At last! We
will see Him, not as a humble baby in a manger or our precious Savior
dying on the cross of suffering and shame; but what we have longed to
see—our King, the King of Kings, in all His holy glory! I can see it all in my
mind. Truly glorious and breathtaking! However, this particular throne
is one of everlasting judgment—and this is where the terrible comes in.
Just as a shepherd separates his flock into two groups, sheep and goats,
Jesus, our Good Shepherd, will divide every person on earth into His
two groups: those who have accepted Him as Savior (sheep), thereby
growing good fruit i.e. good works, such as caring for the poor and
needy (verses 35-40); and, those who have not accepted Him as Savior
(goats), thereby, growing zero fruit (verses 42-45). Group 1 will enjoy
everlasting life with Him, and Group 2 will be cursed, put into eternal
fire and punishment without Him (verses 41-46).

As Matthew Henry comments, “These are things of awful consideration,
because of everlasting concern to every one of us (https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henrycomplete/matthew/25.html).

Consequently, the Holy Spirit compels me: 1) to produce more fruit by
loving others who cannot care for themselves (verse 40), and, 2) to be
a brighter light for Christ to the lost who do not know Him. It especially
grieves my heart to think of loved ones who have not yet accepted Jesus;
I want them with me in Group 1, saved from eternal fire and punishment
and ready for everlasting life with Christ!

Life Application Questions:

• How am I living my love for Jesus (fruit/good works) by my readiness to do good (James 2:15-16; 1 John 3:17)?
• How am I shining Christ’s light into the world, especially to those to whom I’m closest (Matthew 5:16)?

My name is Marty McGinn. My wife Corey and I are in the Friday night
North by Northwest Home Group. We are new to Riverside and live in
Niles, Michigan with our four children ages 9-17.

• Today’s reading is Matthew 25:14-30, where Jesus is teaching his disciples about the kingdom of heaven using terms which his disciples could understand.

Interestingly, a talent in this context is referring to a weight of money.
According to Wikipedia, a talent was worth about 6,000 denarii. Since a
denarius was the usual payment for a day’s labor, then one talent was
worth 16 years of work—hundreds of thousands of dollars in today’s
money! The word talent today usually refers to having a special ability.
That is also related to this passage, because God is the source of our
abilities. He gives, and He also holds us accountable.

Jesus is investing in us and with us. He does not give everyone the same
thing. I love how his response to the man with 5 talents is the same as the
one with 2 talents. Both were faithful to invest what He had entrusted
to them, and both were praised and entrusted with more. Then a man
who was only entrusted with one talent (which is still plenty of money)
just buried it in the ground.

Here are some questions for you to ponder today:

• What has God entrusted to you that is of value? See 1 Peter 1:7
• Have you been faithful to use what He has entrusted to you for His glory?

Hi, my name is Donna Ring. I’m in the North by Northwest Home Group
led by Dale and Cathy Shreve. I have lived in South Bend for 24 years in
the same house on the West side—doesn’t seem possible it’s been that
long. I have worked in various jobs and lived in various places over the
years. I am now retired and loving it.

• Read Matthew 25:1-13.

Every generation says Jesus is coming soon. So many generations have
said this that it is easy to not take it seriously. Yes, we know He’s coming
back, but probably not now. We’ve gotten kind of drowsy.

That’s what He’s saying in these parables: We don’t know! So…

Today’s passage helps us see what we are to be doing: waiting with
purpose; waiting prepared; waiting with clear vision. I was curious why
the bit about the wick was included here. Why trim your wick? Come to
find out a trimmed wick keeps soot from forming on the inside of the
lantern and so keeps the lantern light burning bright.

Some questions to help you meditate on this passage:

• Why are the 10 virgins waiting? What were they expecting? What did they have with them? Why? Who were they responsible for at the time of the bridegroom’s coming?
• What is Jesus’ instruction in v. 13? What does that look like for us in 2021?
• This might be really spiritualizing, but I pray we all keep our wicks trimmed so that our light is not dimmed and so that we can see our way clearly as we wait and watch. Walk in His light this day.

Hello, my name is Dale Shreve. My wife Cathy and I have been married
for 46 years and have 3 sons and 7 grandchildren. We are part of the
North by Northwest home group that recently started meeting on Friday
nights. What a blessing being part of a home group has been for us over
the years. To have a group of friends to laugh with, cry with, and to dig
into scripture with is truly what community is all about.

• Today we will read Matthew 24:36-51.

As I think about these verses I wonder would I be living my life and
serving the Lord differently if I knew the exact date and time of his
return. If I knew the Lord was returning this year would I be more
intentional with loving my neighbors? Would I be more generous with
my time and possessions? Would I be more consistent in giving God the
glory in everything I say and do?

In verses 45-47 we find the description of the faithful and wise servant.
Is he called faithful and wise because of some extraordinary thing that
he did? No he was commended by his master because he did exactly
what the master expected of him. He was charged to serve the servants
of the household their food at the expected time and that is what he did.
How often do I fall short of what the master expects of me?

• Take some time to reflect on how these passages speak to you. Is there anything you would change if you knew the time and date of our Lord’s return?

Greetings! My name is Cathy Shreve. My husband Dale and I are the
parents of three adult sons, and grandparents to seven grandchildren
ages 9 through 25 (yep we are that old!) We have called Riverside home
since it started about 11 years ago, and we lead the new North by
Northwest Home Group.

• Please stop and read today’s passage Matthew 22:1-14.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like… We can read multiple parables that
Jesus told, giving us glimpses of what heaven is like. Most were not
what the religious leaders of the day expected.

How do you feel when you receive an invitation to a wedding? I know
that I feel honored to be included as the family looks forward to the
special day. My calendar is marked, the invitation accepted, and I look
at my schedule to see what arrangements I need to make, knowing that
planning and preparation by the couple has already started before the
invitation has even arrived.

To ignore an invitation from anyone is rude. To reject an invitation from
a king seems really surprising. In this passage not only were the multiple
invitations rejected or ignored, but the king’s servants were also mistreated and even killed. Sadly, one man in the story failed to wear the garments
provided by the king, with grave consequences.

This passage makes me think about Revelation 19:9.

• Have you responded to the invitation of the King?
• Take some time to consider what it means that many are invited but few are chosen.