March 22, 2026 | Fifth Sunday of Lent @ Holy Trinity Lutheran Church – Buffalo, NY
Scripture References:
Based on Psalm 139; Isaiah 43:16–21; John 12:1–8.
“On Purpose”
I’ve been watching Buffalo Sabres games and a good bit of March Madness college basketball. One thing I’ve noticed in these games is the fouls. When a player commits a foul by breaking the rules, depending on the foul, the referees may have to determine if the foul was done “on purpose.”
Did one player trip, hit, or otherwise hurt another player … on purpose? If the referees deem the foul was done on purpose, it might result in a more significant penalty.
You and I are—thankfully—not fouled the same ways hockey and basketball players are fouled. But the “fouls” we experience in day-to-day life can also be done on purpose. People can cut us off in traffic, “steal” our parking space, or hurt us in some way. And it’s worse if they do it on purpose.
We might exclaim, “You did that on purpose!”
What does that mean … on purpose?
When someone does something on purpose, it is done with intent … perhaps with a degree of forethought.
Things being done on purpose don’t always have to be hurtful or negative, though.
It could be that you did that kind thing … you did that hard thing … you did that thing to help or advocate for another person … on purpose.
It may also be that there wasn’t a whole lot of forethought at all. Maybe you simply reacted to a situation that revealed your values, your priorities, your sense of right and wrong … your purpose.
When Purpose Feels Heavy
We can clearly see purpose in these kinds of actions, but our vision becomes a bit more cloudy when we think about our purpose in life. It seems to take on a certain heaviness … seriousness.
When we think about our purpose in life, we may burden ourselves with the thought that we have one singular purpose given to us by God. So, we may feel that, if we happen to miss or not fully live into that purpose, we are sinning, disappointing God, being unfaithful, or being selfish.
We may worry whether we even have a purpose, or if we’ve missed it. We may worry if it is too late for us to discover or live our purpose.
God Is Already Doing a New Thing
As we consider our readings, we hear this:
In Psalm 139, God created us and knows us on purpose. We matter to God.
In Isaiah 43, God says, “I am about to do a new thing….”
Isn’t this more about what God is doing rather than what we are or are not doing?
God is active … God is creating … moving … making a way. And God invites us to be part of that movement … on purpose.
Purpose That Looks Like Love
In John’s gospel, Mary didn’t explain her purpose—she lived it.
She poured out what she had … extravagantly … unapologetically … generously … and some people thought it was too much … a wrong use … a waste. Wouldn’t it be more efficient to use the money spent on that costly oil to care for the poor?
Purpose will not always look efficient.
Purpose will not always make sense.
But purpose will often look like love.
Rather than approaching our purpose with heaviness, seriousness, and maybe even shame, what if we talked about our purpose with a sense of wonderment … a sense of curiosity … a sense of joy and lightness … as an act of extravagant love?
Living Our Purpose, One Act at a Time
We know that God emptied himself and became one of us … on purpose.
We know that Jesus healed the sick, the blind, those who could not walk … welcomed the children … welcomed all who are weary and carrying heavy burdens … cast out demons and raised the dead … confronted the religious and political leaders … on purpose.
Jesus talked with the Samaritan woman at the well … called attention to the woman with the 12-year flow of blood and the woman bent over for 18 years … spoke to the woman who was caught in adultery and about to be stoned to death … on purpose.
Jesus addressed Zacchaeus who climbed up in a sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see … and he spoke with Nicodemus who came to him under the cover of darkness … on purpose.
Our invitation today is to pour out love abundantly … extravagantly … on purpose. Not because it’s efficient, not because it makes sense, not because it will be noticed, but because it is who we are as children of God.
What if our purpose is what happens in the course of each of us doing what we love, believe in, honors God, and loves our neighbors?
What if we simply noticed these things that are already active in our lives and give thanks that God is already at work in and through us?
How powerful it is to acknowledge that we are participating in life and God’s work of extravagant love … on purpose?
For Your Reflection
Where do you see yourself already living “on purpose” through acts of love—perhaps in ways you’ve overlooked?
Epicurious Lutheran 
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