onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the 2^nd Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 1, 2, 3; Evening, Psalms 4 and 7;   

Exodus 14:21-31; 1 Pet. 1:1-12; John 14:1-17:

“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2 – 3)

There are few things that can compare with a well thought-out plan. One of the lessons I am still learning is to have a place for things before I get them. It is really upsetting to order and have delivered a new gym apparatus and no where to put it in an already crowded garage.   I’ve gotten to the point that when I am asked to move something for someone, I ask where do you want me to move it to?  If there is something already occupying that space, then the question becomes, where does that item then go? and on and on.

For our eternal home, this work has already been done by our Lord Jesus. Jesus says he has gone to prepare a place for us. This preparing that Jesus speaks of may even be “create” a space for us. The good news is that there is a space, a dwelling for us. You have heard that there should be a place for everything, and everything in its place, right?  We are co-creating a space in our eternal home right now as we go about believing in and following Jesus.

In what I call my “man-cave” upstairs are many photos, plaques, and memorabilia I have collected over the years. It’s not much, it’s just me. Jesus is decorating a room for me with the good works I have done, and hopefully, will do as I await his call to my eternal home. How about you my friend?  What personal souvenirs or memorabilia is our Lord Jesus preparing your space with? The good news is, if you are reading this you still have time to forward some good works, or fruits of the spirit, forward to our Lord Jesus as he prepares your space. For as he says, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.” Let me be clear, this is not “works righteousness,” but rather, “living the dream.”

Our continued support of Ukraine is but a piece of the décor that our Lord will use to ornate our dwelling place with. The good we do now goes with us as a keepsake in the next life. While there may not be a lot we can do, praying for Ukraine is the first step. We just need to ask God to help them and then be prepared for what the Spirit might say to us as a copartner in the help process.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Eucharistic Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter: Year C

Acts 5:27-32; Revelation 1:4-8; John 20:19-31; Psalm 118:14-29 or Psalm 150:

 “But Thomas (who was called the Twin – also Didymus) one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” (John 20:24-25a)

We know that of the twelve, Judas has died.  All the rest, the eleven, now stayed together. Most of their time, after the resurrection, it is revealed that they huddled together in a room behind a locked door. The writers make that point to let us know that the door was locked but the Resurrected Jesus appeared within the room anyway.

So why was Thomas not with them?  I recall Thomas as one who suggested that they all go to Jerusalem and die with Jesus; (John 11:16). So he was no coward.  Also Thomas was not afraid to speak up when Jesus made statements about his followers knowing where he was going. Thomas spoke up and said that in fact they did not know where he was going, and he wondered how could they know the way; (John 14:5).  This shows something of the character of Thomas.  He was a person of dedication, integrity, courage, and honesty about what he knows and does not know.  Perhaps he was tired of the weakness of the other ten.  He was tired enough to be away from them as they stayed locked up in their room.

Now these men who came out of their self imprisonment to approach Thomas with news of the Resurrection. Thomas doubts the people who also doubted the person who first brought the news to them, Mary Magdalene.  Yet they come to Thomas with the same words, “We have seen the Lord.”

Yes, Thomas does say that unless certain criteria are met he would not believe.  But maybe this was more about his relationship with the ten than a real doubt about the Risen Jesus.  While Jesus invites Thomas to touch him we don’t have it in writing that he actually does.  Just seeing Jesus was enough to see that the others were in fact telling the truth and Thomas proclaims Jesus as his Lord and his God. (John 20:28)

What does it mean for us today to hear “We have seen the Lord”?  I think whenever we are blessed enough to see something good happen, when it was against all odds, we have seen Jesus raised.  When we see life given back to someone who was dying, or a life saving operation, or an accident that could have been much worse, we have seen the Lord.  Jesus is made manifest in the many miracles that happen all around us.  And they are still happening all the time.

Sometimes, like Thomas, we are not so sure of the sources that report the miracles.  But we must remember, it’s really not about them, it’s about Jesus and his invitation to just believe even if we have not seen but have been told.  And because we have been told, and yet not personally seen, we believe, and so, are blessed.

I now look for our Lord Jesus in Ukraine as they stay huddled up, locked in, in national captivity.  I pray and believe, though unseen, that the Lord is with them.  Thank You Lord Jesus.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Readings for Saturday of Easter Week: Year C

Acts 4:13-21; Mark 16:9-15,20; Psalm 118:14-18 or Psalm 118:19-2:

 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.  When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.  So they ordered them to leave the council while they discussed the matter with one another.  They said, “What will we do with them? For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it.  But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” (Acts 4: 13 – 17)

Because the earth turns out to be round and not flat as believed by early Bible writers, and thus does not have four corners, does not mean that God does not exist. And because the sun does not orbit around the earth as believed by early writers of the Bible, but in fact the earth moves around the sun, does not mean that God does not exist.

I have a strong faith.  However, I pray that God assists my intellect when I’m faced with some new-to-me fact of God’s love that I did not know. So when something new is shown to me I find a way to evolve, to “re-ponder,” my faith in a way that will help me adapt to it for the sake of my soul and my love of others. 

In the passage above we have men who acknowledge that good has been done.  But rather than accept it and adjust, they wish to be quiet about it and keep it from the people.  There comes a time when we must acknowledge the evidence presented to us.  This does not mean the giving up of one’s faith, but rather, to ponder anew what the Almighty can do, and is doing.

These men in the Acts passage above are all about maintaining their religious power. They want to keep from spreading among the people something good that they themselves can’t deny.  Rather than finding ways to be a part of this Good News, they want to suppress it. Do they not have loved ones who could benefit from this healing power made manifest by Peter in Jesus’ Name?

There are many religious sects today that operate from this kind of controlling fear and forbid their members from visiting or participating in any other faith traditions. The fear is that if they see something they think is better, they are lost.  I am reminded of an old saying, “If you love something, let it go, if it comes back to you, it’s yours, if it does not, it never was.”

I belong to the Christian Tradition that operates our Washington National Cathedral. Many diverse faiths have been, and continue to be, invited to speak from our pulpit. Jesus is about love and inclusiveness, not fear and controlling.  Thank You Lord Jesus.

Today things look gloomy in Ukraine. But we should never give up on them and what God is doing on their behalf. I heard a priest from Eastern Ukraine say that all he’s got is prayer. Prayer is enough, it will bring the help needed.  I pray with him and for the whole of Ukraine. God help us.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Eucharistic Readings for Friday in Easter Week: Year C

Acts 4:1-12;  John 21:1-14;  Psalm 116:1-8 or Psalm 118:19-24:

 “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is `the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”  (Acts 4:8 -12)

I have learned from buying furniture that comes unassembled in a box with various loose pieces, to not throw anything away – at least until the new item is completely assembled.  The very piece you think has no use is the very piece that holds everything together.  So it is with people too.

There was a small parish that needed to raise funds to do various carpentry projects around the building.  Much attention was given to the high dollar folk in the congregation.  And almost disregard was given to the poor or out of work parishioners.  One of the out-of-work persons, it turns out, was a carpenter, who, at the time, had both the talent and the time to make a huge difference in how much money they would need or that could be saved. We can’t dismiss anybody.

Each and every one of us contains a treasure that God has put in us.  The Creating Word has placed in each of us something the rest of us needs.  There are no trash people. We may trash ourselves, but that’s not God’s doing. I fear that some people turn to do bad things because they don’t know that God has blessed them with a much needed gift.  It’s in you and it’s in me. We need each other. God made us that way.

Jesus is the only One who has the one thing that all people need, salvation. Since it is through Jesus that we all came into being, it is also through Jesus that we all have eternal life.  And he was the piece that was thrown away!   Thank God that “forever” death was overturned.

How many gifts are contained in the people of Ukraine?  They are our gifts. We need to save them.

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom. 

What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Readings for Thursday of Easter Week: Year C

Acts 3:11-26;  Luke 24:36b-48; Psalm 8 or Psalm 114 or Psalm 118:19-24:

 “And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets.”  (Acts 3:17-21)

I don’t think we expect a leader to be weak, much less be one who suffers. Then, like today, we want someone to be in charge who is strong and flawless.  However, I have noticed and pondered about the fact that conquering nations often copy habits or traits of those they dispossessed. This is the stronger copying the weaker. For example; European colonist displaced Native Americans and picked up their smoking habit as a pastime.  The Romans dispossessed the Hebrew people from their native land only for Rome to then become the seat of the Judeo-Christian Church of the world. Often a dominant group will adapt the habits or customs of a minority group.  This seems to me counterintuitive. Peter recalls from the prophets that the Messiahwould suffer.  This is not what they expected but it seems the suffering people leave a lasting change on those who oppressed them: good or bad.

Yet this is the path to universal restoration, that is, change for good.  Peter says that universal restoration is when Jesus will return to us.  I ponder that this means all people; all families, are reconciled back to God.  Currently, there are many families who are not reconciled back to God.  So we’ve got work to do.  I’m at a loss as to how to proceed.  Perhaps I’m still in ignorance as Peter says about his friends and their leaders.  I guess the best that I can do is to keep on pondering, praying, and preparing to be a suffering leader. Ouch!   

It is said that it is lonely at the top.  Does that mean suffering at the top? Jesus often went to a place by himself to pray.  Abraham was also a suffering leader and often afraid of what following God was going to cost him, even his own son.  Many of the prophets also suffered because they followed God.  But Peter reminds us that “You [we] are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, “And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Acts 3:25 recalled from Genesis 22:18) 

All the families of the earth sounds like universal restoration to me.  This means everybody acknowledging God and God’s love working in us for all people.  I am thinking only a leader willing to suffer on behalf of their people can do this kind of work.  It’s hard to hear this message but necessary for our salvation. So, hear it we must, and hopefully our future leaders will be people who are willing to suffer, and hopefully, we will appreciate them. I continually want to lift up Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine, as a great example of a suffering leader. He is standing strong for the people of Ukraine. God bless him. We could use more leaders like him.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Eucharistic Readings for Wednesday of Easter Week; Year C

Acts 3:1-10;  Luke 24:13-35; Psalm 105:1-8 or Psalm 118:19-24:

 “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.” (Luke 24:30-31)

It seems the Resurrected Jesus did a lot of appearing and disappearing as he so chose.  This lesson on the road to Emmaus is just such an encounter.  Jesus retells scripture to them from Moses to their present which would include the kings and prophets, how God’s love and presence was always with humanity and how God came to them in the person of Jesus.  God took humanity, blessed humanity, sent humanity in their various directions starting with twelve tribes.  This is the way God loves us.  God loves us, takes us, blesses us, divides us in good ways, and sends us off to do good works. Anything less is not Godly.

It is when Jesus joined the two of them at their table and conducted the Holy Communion that they realized who he was.  At that point, he was no longer seen – magically, as he chose.

This four-fold consecration of the elements has been handed down to us from Jesus himself.  It is God’s formula for spreading love.  God takes creation and blesses it – says it is good.   Then God divides the spaces of where various created creatures are to live, some in the waters, some in the trees some on the open plain, some in the mountains, and so on; and gives to each their own.  However, humanity has the option of living in any climb and place where we can take love.  Humanity has the intellect to manipulate conditions to suit the necessary living conditions required for us.  So we, humanity, are taken, blessed, divided and sent to all parts of the earth to remember and proclaim the Creating Word. 

Jesus, like the angels throughout the Bible, does not arrive, but rather, appears.  This means the angels, and perhaps Jesus, are already with us, but prevents us from seeing them.  Jesus did not let them know who he was until he was ready.  As shown in this chapter of Luke, “While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” (Luke 24:15-16)

We have very limited perceptibility.  We see what the Holy One wants us to see, when the Holy One wants us to see it.  We, like the two on the road to Emmaus, are to see the sacred in the four-fold formula of God.  It is then that our hearts also will burn with desire.    

When we misuse God’s formula of taking, blessing, sharing and giving we corrupt our divine mission of spreading love in the world and it can cause war to happen such as it has in Ukraine. We now need to receive them, bless them, share what we have, and give back to them what is theirs.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Eucharistic Readings for Tuesday of Easter Week: Year C

Acts 2:36-41; John 20:11-18; Psalm 33:18-22 or Psalm 118:19-24:

 “Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”   Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”  Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:36 – 38)

It really hurts to learn you have been a part of something that was bad.  When I visited Christ Episcopal Church, downtown Philadelphia (in 2015) I got into a conversation with a historian there about the heroes of the Civil War.  The question he put forth to me was how do the ancestors of Confederate soldiers honor the bravery and courage of their great, great grandparents and at the same time disapprove of what they were fighting for?  In the same vein I have a friend who is a priest and who has an old sword of his father connected to a form of White supremacy that he is ashamed of.  I told him that that was a different time. He told me, “that’s not a good enough answer.”

I myself have bought products made with slave labor from around the world.  I am sorry for participating in such shameful acts.  I have pretended not to see abuses of people different than myself. I have seen what I believed to have been evidence of domestic violence and not reported it. I continue to crucify Jesus.  I too am cut to the heart.  What should I do Peter, I have already been baptized?

I believe the waters of baptism never stop flowing.  While I believe in one baptism, I did engage in a ceremonial baptism in the Jordan River while on pilgrimage in Israel. Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan. A river is a “moving” body of water.  The Jordan River takes the sins of the baptized down river to the Dead Sea!  That’s something to ponder.

 The waters of baptism continue to move over us long after someone has initially started pouring the water over us, or submerging us in it.  This continual “Fount of Every Blessing”, this running water, like a regular shower, continues to rinse away our sins.  We, however, must keep regular visits to Holy Communion to keep that holy water moving.  This is why a little water is mingled into the wine at Communion.  It is a reminder that as a Baptized people we vowed that we will continue in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. (BCP 304)

Thanks to modern day social media and the world wide web, we can’t pretend to not know about the different horrors around the world – yes, especially Ukraine. We must reach out to them as best we can. To ignore them and their troubles is to again ignore the crucifixion of Jesus. At Communion Jesus’ words ring out, “This is my blood of the New Covenant that is shed for you, and others, for the forgiveness of sins…”  Thank You Lord Jesus!

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Eucharistic Readings for Monday in Easter Week

Acts 2:14,22b-32; Matthew 28:9-15; Psalm 16:8-11 or Psalm 118:19-24:

“Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”  (Matthew 28:10)

I have been to the Holy Land.  There is a difference between Galilee and Judea.  There is a difference in the land and climate.  In the North, in Galilee, there is rain and there are fields with crops and live stock. This is where Lake Galilee is (also called Sea of Galilee).  This is where the Jordan River is (where Jesus was baptized).  It is a blessed place with or without people.

Judea to the south is arid.  Judea is desert.  It is where the Dead Sea is.  Jerusalem is in Judea. Jerusalem is 2,474 feet above sea level and in its natural state it is a very dry heap of sand. How it got to be a Holy City is probably affixed to David, Solomon and the subsequent Temples built and rebuilt there and the longing of the Hebrew people to be there.

But as I listen to Jesus’ story and his words it occurs to me that it is not so much Jerusalem of Judea that he focuses on for good works and teaching but Galilee and its towns and villages.  Of Jerusalem Jesus says, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37) So something about Judea and Jerusalem in the south is not so blessed to me, with or without people.

I prayed for God to give me an unbiased mind as I was preparing to travel to the Holy Land.  I think God did. Putting aside all I had read and heard about Jerusalem and Judea I witnessed firsthand the nature of Israel, upper and lower Israel. I took the picture of the Galilean countryside from a boat in the middle of Lake Galilee that is posted at the top of all my blogs.

It was in the region of Galilee that Jesus turned water into wine (Cana). In the region of Galilee He walked on water (sea of Galilee), preached the sermon on the mount (Mount Tabor), raised the widow’s son (Nain), healed Peter’s mother-in –law (Capernaum) fed the 5000, and much, much more.  So, it is not surprising to me that the Resurrected Jesus tells the women to tell his followers to meet him in Galilee.  I just wish I knew where in Galilee.

I think sometimes it is a good thing to meditate and ponder on what Scripture says, and what it does not say.  We, as Christians, focus on Jesus, what he does and what he says for us to do.  Jesus was conceived and later raised in Nazareth of Galilee.  And while he was born in Bethlehem and taken to Nazareth by way of Egypt as a baby and a child, it was of his own accord that he went to Capernaum of Galilee and walked along the shore inviting his followers to follow him.  I highly recommend Christian pilgrims desiring a trip to the Holy Land to pay much more attention to Galilee as they plan. Remember, the Resurrected Jesus, the “Easter” Jesus actually invites us to go to Galilee. “Then Jesus said to them [us], “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers [and sisters] to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”  (Matthew 28:10)

I also believe that the Holy Presence of God dwells in Ukraine. God’s ears hears tears. We too must listen to, and respond to, the tears of the Ukrainian people. Let us meet our Lord Jesus there also.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Eucharistic Readings for Easter Sunday: Year C

Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 65:17-25; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

 “Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”  Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.” (John 20:17-18)

Mary runs twice.  First she sees that the body of Jesus is missing and runs and tells Simon Peter and (we think John also), that the body of Jesus is missing.  After they have their “verification run,” Mary sees and talks with Jesus and then is sent (Running again) by Jesus to announce the Resurrection!           

Mary owes everything she knows about herself to Jesus.  She was possessed by 7 demons from which Jesus released her (Luke 8:2).  Jesus was her life-line.  So when Jesus called her by her name, “Mary” it was like the impossible happening! She got her life back.

Mary is sent by Jesus to give the Resurrection sermon; I have seen the Lord! She gives the information that Jesus has risen from the dead! 

Jesus coming back from the dead might be shocking.  But I think what is more divine about Jesus is that he rose from the dead, and is able to let us know that he rose from the dead.  I wonder how many rose from the dead but are not able to share with us the reward of faithful living.

God has made covenant with humanity for the whole existence of humanity.  But we always found a way to break it. We broke it with Noah. We broke it with Abraham. We broke it with Moses. Now God comes to us as one of us to show us how to keep covenant. This time in order to break covenant we have to kill God Incarnate, and we do.  But God says “NO.”  This time God un-breaks the broken.  God in Christ Jesus, as a human and as God, sustains our covenant with God by defeating death, thus maintaining covenant with God.

Jesus tells Mary to go and tell “us” that he has gone back to his Father and our Father, to his God and our God. This is so reminiscent of Ruth 1:16-17 where Ruth refuses to leave Naomi but says, “   Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die— there will I be buried.”

 I can see Mary running with more excitement than she can bear with the Good News of the Resurrection! But will Simon Peter and John and the others (and us), will we listen to Mary Magdalene’s sermon and rejoice? Or do we too need to run some kind of verification race for geologic or forensic evidence? We need to hear her words and believe her and get our lives back also. Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Let us also pray for the Resurrection of Ukraine; that death and destruction may cease and life starts anew.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Easter Vigil: Year C

Romans 6:3-11 and  Luke 24:1-12

 “But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.” (Luke 24:12)

 “What?” “ No, it can’t be!”  This must have been what Peter thought when Mary Magdalene and the other women brought the disciples the news that Jesus was no longer in the tomb.

So Peter runs to the tomb to see for himself. I guess in all honesty, I might have done the same thing.  But as a Monday morning Biblical quarterback, and a big fan of Mary Magdalene, I ask why couldn’t the men just believe her?  But since it does sound too good to be true, I probably would have ran to see for myself also.  In John’s Gospel account, Peter runs with another disciple who outruns Peter but hesitates at the door and Peter rushes right inside the tomb. 

Peter has had some life changing experiences with Jesus.  Jesus has become part of who Peter is.  Just as Jesus has become a part of who all Christians are.  Peter however, got to live and travel with Jesus and witness firsthand the power of God working out salvation in the personhood of Jesus. While it was difficult to have Jesus to die, it must be amazing to see his burial place be empty.  This is the turning point for Simon Peter. For him and for us, it means hope!

From this point forward, Peter is a new person.  From the Resurrection forward, for all of us who are Christians, we are new persons in Christ Jesus.  We walk, or run, with Peter and we too are amazed. The tomb of our sin is empty and our future is full.  We have a guaranteed next life that has no end. Thank You Jesus.

The question becomes, “how do we use our remaining earthly life in thanksgiving to God for God’s mercy, forgiveness and the promise of eternal life?  The answer of course, is in gratitude.

Jesus now lives in the stories told and written about Him, in our prayers to Him, and in our hopes and trust in Him.  God is able to be with us in Christ Jesus still today.

As God in Christ Jesus is now watching us even closer through human eyes, and knowing that we are aware of what is going on in Ukraine, let us be seen by God advocating for Ukraine, and all people threatened by terrorist organizations, be they an organized government, or renegade gangs. Wrong is wrong. Unloving acts are unloving acts.  Easter is love Resurrected. Let us live as a resurrected people. The Spirit of our Lord Jesus now dwells in all who believe in Him and are committed to amendment of life wherein all human life is precious in His sight. Halleluiah; He is Risen!

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John