FROM THE RECTOR – April 17, 2020

As we gather for Sunday worship whether in person, or virtually via Facebook live or radio, in the midst of the Great Thanksgiving we say these words: “Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.” As we live into these weeks and months of physical distancing these words, for me, speak so much of my experience.

It seems like so long ago, but in fact only a month, that we were gathering together on Sundays and throughout the week for worship, choir practices, committee meetings, meals and formation. Something important to us died; the community gathered in its many and various forms. I mourn that loss, that sense of connection.

Then last week, in new and different ways, we proclaimed in a common voice, “Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.” It didn’t feel the same. Like the women at the tomb we didn’t find things as we have grown to expect. Again for me, like those women, the reality of the day began to become real. Christ is risen; risen in what we see and experience in the lives of those around us. In the reaching out in new ways to touch the lives of others. It is in the honest care and concern for “neighbor” that we know Christ is risen.

Then comes the next part, but when? When will Christ come again. When will we gather again as the body of Christ at Saint Paul’s Church. When will things return to “normal”. Just as the early followers of Jesus tried to figure that out, so are we. But, there are things we can learn from their experience. On that Easter morning things changed and there was no return to the old “normal”. The presence of the risen Jesus transformed everything and that same presence in our lives today is reason to hope. We hope, we pray that as we live our lives the risen Christ shines through.

Also, I am pretty sure that when Christ comes again it’s now going to be how I expect. Just as some 2000 years ago Jesus came as an itinerant preacher with a gang of ragtag followers, not as people expected; so now God is making his presence felt in new and unexpected ways.

It is my prayer for all of us that we be open to the power of God working in ways that we don’t expect. To paraphrase words from our Eucharistic prayer C let us pray:

Life giving God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world about us. Deliver us from the presumption of turning to you for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal. We ask, O Lord, that the grace of your presence make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may have the strength to face the days ahead serving the world in his name. Accept these and all our prayers O Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ, our strength and redeemer.  Amen.