Beloved friends,
This Sunday we will hear the portion of the story of Jesus’ last days among us in which he implores his disciples, his friends, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”
They are powerful words offered by Jesus on this night as he gathers them one last time for a meal and to say goodbye. I have wrestled with these words and the passage that follows as we continue to live through these terribly troubling times. Where do we find peace, how do we manage our anxiety living in a world that seems to shift day by day?
We are now halfway through the season of Eastertide- the 50 days between Easter and Pentecost. It is the season following the resurrection and prior to the ascension when we are reminded of the mystery of welcoming the risen Christ- the new and not altogether comprehensible identity of God’s love in a different form. And, I confess, it is the part of our collective faith story that I both yearn to understand and still struggle with on a daily basis.
For years I have looked for help to make sense of this mystery, this transformation of Jesus and discern what it means in my life, the life of those I love and in the world. The good news is that I am absolutely certain I am not alone on this journey, and finally realize it is okay to feel nowhere near the proximity of an all-encompassing answer/explanation.
I also take great comfort in garnering a collection of wisdom, insight and inspiration from a plethora of sources- both known and unknown. In the relationships close to home and in the writings and lives of those I have never met. Over the years, Rachel Held Evans has been one of those inspiring voices/writers to me. She died tragically almost exactly one year ago at 37yrs old leaving not only a husband and two small children behind, but also an entire extended faith community who she influenced, challenged and inspired through her prolific writing. She once shared words I have taken on to describe moments like this in my own faith journey:
“I am a Christian because the story of Jesus is the story, I am willing to risk being wrong about.”
And so, I end this week with the reminder of how precious life is and how important companions are along the way. We indeed need each other, maybe more than ever before, as we courageously make our way in this new and seemingly unfamiliar landscape, learning every day, bit by bit, how to live lives that approximate the teachings and path offered by Jesus; a way that invites us to become the beloved community.
Come home to “Trinity@Home” this Sunday at 10:00 to be nurtured and maybe challenged; to be together in the ways that we can be as we continue to believe we are called as disciples of the Risen Christ.
And may you never forget that you are loved.
Lisa