4th Sunday of Easter - May 3,2020

"Christ has risen and death has been cast down. Christ has risen and the devils have fallen. Christ has risen and the angels rejoice. Christ has risen and there are no corpses left in the sepulcher. For Christ in rising from the dead is the firstfruits of those that sleep. To Him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen."  John Chrysostom, ancient church father, died 407AD

"Heavenly Father, I thank You that You take care of me. Your mercy is endless. You crown the day with Your goodness. Help me to recognize all your blessings. Deliver me from my spiritual blindness. Show me Your footprints all over creation. Amen" [daily prayer for May 2, A Prayer fo Every Day]

The above prayer resonates with my spirit for I think that far to often I miss seeing the presence and work of God in my life and in the world about me.

The Gospel lectionary lesson for this week was John 10:1-10 where it talks about Jesus entering the sheepfold by the gate and also that he is the gate. It is an interesting mix of images. John 10:11-18 speak of Jesus being the good shepherd. The Spiritual Formation Bible states: "Jesus is the Good Shepherd. The shepherd cares for you. He knows your name. He will protect you and guard you from those who want to destroy you. And he knows the path that lies ahead of you."
Wow! These are encouraging and helpful words.

Dare to be what you want to be and can be! Dare to believe!

Here are my lectionary words for this week.

Acts 2:42-47      certainty
Psalm 23            still
I Peter 2:19-20   suffering
I Peter 2:21-25   healed
John 10:1-6        lead
John 10:7-10      abundant
Jeremiah 6:1-15 listen


Dave and Beth Boram, spiritual directors write about the negative impact of our current Covid-19 pandemic. They write that it has made us powerless, uncertain, isolated and lost. They then speak about that which a friend has called the fertile void of this situation.

"This is where the fertile void steps in and offers its hand of hope. While being POWERLESS,

UNCERTAIN, ISOLATED AND LOST describes the “void” of this crisis we’re in, the “fertile” hope

of our experience is how this time can transform us. A fertile void is where meaning-making

ceases and being begins. And being is what life is about!

To “be” is to live fully in the present moment.  

To “be” is to cease striving and know that God is God.

To “be” is to possess peace from accepting what we can’t change and changing what we can.

To “be” is to accept our humanness, finiteness and mortality.

Yes, we are living in the fertile void. And if we consent to “be” in the powerlessness, uncertainty,

isolation, and lostness of this void--it will not have the last word! The deep work it does in us will

make us into people of “being.” Human beings. And that will be a tremendous homecoming."

Worship is humanity's answer to God's call.

Do what God says and say what God does!