He is Risen!

 Death with life contended:
   combat strangely ended!
Life’s own Champion, slain,
   yet lives to reign.

Easter Sequence

Day six into the Easter Octave and we are still thrilling at the news that "Christ is Risen!". He's risen indeed, Alleluia alleluia!

Everything is changed by this fact that remains beautifully a mystery. 

•Why do we hold onto hope, even in the face of death?
•Why do we sense that beyond the vastness of space and time, there is a presence that sees us and cares?•Why do we dare to believe our lives have meaning and purpose?
•Why does our society still cling to the idea that every individual matters?

The answer is striking in its simplicity and power. Three words: HE IS RISEN.

Not I Lord, Surely?

‘Not I, Lord, surely?’
Mt.26:22

The declaration by Jesus that one of the twelve is to betray him provokes a shocked response, even from Judas. 

If I were sitting at that table, that would have been my response as well. "Not I, Lord..!" Yet, the truth is... I have betrayed Jesus. Every sinful thought, word, deed or deed withheld is a betrayal of the one I love. 

I nail Love to the Cross. Love looks at me saying, "I know you. I understand your brokenness. I forgive you and will never stop loving you." 

This divine, transformative power revealed through Jesus exceeds human understanding. It's a mystery, giving me hope beyond mere intellectual comprehension.  All I can do is receive it and let it animate my life.

Love of Christ come now! 

I Am His He Is Mine

I shall make my home above them; I will be their God, they shall be my people. 
Ez.37:27

God establishes a relationship. I am his. He is mine. 

This is a great mystery, that the creator of the universe desires a relationship with me. Love is the only thing that makes sense of it, God's great love for me, his son. 

I can do nothing to earn it or bar it. All I can do is receive it. I do this best by loving him in return.

Thank you Father for your great love for me. I bask in your love and love you in return.

Works Prove Words

And many came to him. And they said, ‘John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.’ And many believed in him there.
Jn.10:41,42

Jesus returns to the region where John the Baptist first baptised. People compared John's words with Jesus' works, leading to a significant increase in faith in that area.

Words are proven true by works. I can say I love someone but this is not shown as true until I lovingly serve them. Emotional love doesn't achieve much. Active love does. 

Faith is often born from works. Yes, faith is a gift but the gift can be given through love in action. 

Jesus, help my love be active today so that many can believe. 

Hearer Doer Keeper

I tell you most solemnly, whoever keeps my word will never see death.
Jn.8:51

Jesus makes the ultimate promise for those who believe. Eternal life.

There are 8.3 billion people in the world and we all face the same 100% certainty of death. However, for believers death is viewed as a transition ("falling asleep in the Lord") rather than an end, promised through Christ’s own resurrection.

I am reminded of the importance of my "keeping God's word". Jesus says the good soil for the seed are people who hear God's word and act on it. (Mt.13:23)

Jesus, help me be a hearer, doer and keeper of your word today.

His Plan

And Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?
Lk.1:34

Mary's first response to the momentous news that she is to become the Mother of God's Son is, "How?" Her second response is, "Yes."

Questioning God isn't testing God. It's getting up to speed with God's plan. If I want to be a player in God's plan I need to know the plan. "Ask and it shall be given to you" says Jesus (Mt.7:7). 

Mary was given the plan for the rest of her life, even into eternity. Sometimes I need the plan just for today, or the next hour. The starting point is believing there is a plan, that life isn't a series of random happenings that I stumble through and that the Holy Spirit is in me to guide me. 

Thank you God for listening to my prayer and for the promise that Your plans for me are good—plans to give me a future full of hope. 

Who Are You?

So they said to him, ‘Who are you?’ 
Jn.8:25

This is the most important question of my life. I didn't receive an answer until I first asked Jesus the question.

The line "Who are you?" is a common trope in Disney films and is featured in at least five major Disney/Pixar movies, often during moments of confrontation or identity discovery. 

There are times when I ask Jesus again, "Who are you?" Depending on what is happening, I receive different answers. Friend, truth, beauty, the way. These all are encompassed in the reply, love. 

While accompanying a friend dying of cancer we talked about the mystery of his suffering being what love looked like. It helped us look beyond the pain and towards the promise.

Who are you today Lord?