Connected for Life

A parent stands at the bus stop on the first day of school with a kindergarten student. Another parent lingers in the doorway of a first-year dorm after unloading the final box from the car. These parents are entering new times they will not be present to help their children make some important life choices, and words of advice slip from their lips—eat your sandwich before your dessert, share with others, don’t drink and drive, remember who you are. After years of preparation, their children step toward greater independence.

Jesus lingers with the disciples before his death and prepares them for the time when he will no longer be present day to day to help them make their way in the world. Words slip from his mouth: “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). These are difficult words as the disciples try to make sense of Jesus’ impending death and the promise of his continued presence.

“Apart from me you can do nothing” may also be a difficult word for a self-reliant, individualistic culture such as our own, focused on personal achievement and success. God is the vine grower, Jesus the vine, and we the branches, who, separated from the life-giving vine, can do nothing.

Yet, these are gracious, gospel words from Jesus. He’s been preparing his disciples for years to take this step. These are words that point not toward individualistic, self-reliant independence but toward dependence on the one whose life defies death and whose perfect love casts out all fear. Connected to the vine, these branches are given a death-defying life free from fear. These are gracious, gospel words from Jesus that point to a community nourished by this life-giving vine and bearing fruit for the sake of the world.

from Sundays and Seasons

Life Laid Down

How does faith in the risen Christ call one to live? What shape does one’s life take?

The readings for this fourth Sunday of Easter are rich in their imagery, and at the center is the image of the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. Five times in eight short verses Jesus mentions laying down his life for the sake of the sheep.

The First Letter of John picks up the same theme: “We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?” (1 John 3:16-17). Laying down one’s life for another might take many forms, but it at least means this: extending help, as much as you are able, when another is in need.

A friend tells the story of her grandfather, a faithful man who earned a modest income. Each year when tax time rolled around, he was audited. According to tax records he earned so little and gave away so much. The astounded auditors questioned him, wondering why he gave so much of his income to the church. Incredulous, he responded, “You can’t outgive God.”

The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, and joined to the risen life of Christ, the lives of the baptized are shaped by generosity and sacrifice. Giving one’s life, resources, gifts, or whatever one holds most dear for the sake of another is both a witness to the love we have first been shown and an act of faith. Hearing Jesus’ words in this Easter season reminds us that laying down one’s life is not an act to be feared; rather, it is an act that defies death, as we trust that, washed in the waters of baptism, we already live in the resurrected life of Christ.

From Sundays and Seasons

Easter is a sunrise, a new beginning

Each dawn proclaims resurrection.  Every sunrise tells of a new beginning and all creation sings for joy.  From the start of time, Divine Creator, you painted each day with light, fashioned beauty from mountain heights to valley lows, and caused praise to whistle through trees and splash on seashores. When we took to hurrying through beauty, bruising each other, and taking blessings for granted, you sent Jesus to open our eyes to the new dawn and stir our dreams to a new beginning. Easter is our second chance; our try once more. For each new dawn is a resurrection gift, a possibility to deepen relationships, forgive ourselves and those near us, make peace, and share love.  Every sunrise rolls back the stone of doubt and lets the “Alleluia” loose. 

May Easter stay with you

An Easter blessing:

May all the joy and excitement of Easter stay with you.  May the power of Christ's resurrection stay with you.  May the good news of Easter stay with you.  May the promise and hope of Easter stay with you.  May you in the days ahead sing, pray, live, love, act, and serve all for the glory of God.

Be blessed as you go forth.

AMEN

Even when he is silent

In the midst of the pandemic we await a better day... of hugs, sharing the peace in community, singing together, celebrating with family and friends.  While we wait, here's a poem of faith:

“I believe in the sun
even when it is not shining
And I believe in love,
even when there’s no one there.
And I believe in God,
even when he is silent.

I believe through any trial,
there is always a way
But sometimes in this suffering
and hopeless despair
My heart cries for shelter,
to know someone’s there
But a voice rises within me, saying hold on
my child, I’ll give you strength,
I’ll give you hope. Just stay a little while.

I believe in the sun
even when it is not shining
And I believe in love
even when there’s no one there
But I believe in God
even when he is silent
I believe through any trial
there is always a way.

May there someday be sunshine
May there someday be happiness
May there someday be love
May there someday be peace….”

– Uknown

The story that goes with this poem is that it was found carved on a cellar wall in Germany.  Some say in a hiding place for Jews trying to escape the Holocaust.  Others say it was in a concentration camp in Cologne.  If you read it as written by a Jewish person in the midst of the horrors of WWII, the simple words are even more profound.  I have not found verification for the origins of the poem, but they do speak from a place of faith.  And we all need faith.  Hope.  Sunshine, happiness, love and peace.

This poes has been set to music by the Norwegian composer Kim André Arnesen. You can hear a lovely rendition conducted by Anton Armstrong by clicking the link to YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYwYMngq4II