Remembering

Scripture

And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

(Matthew 28:20 NRSV)

Remembering

Pickup Space #1 was mine at 8:00 on Saturday morning. The online grocery order had been delayed a couple of days, but things were looking up. And then, orders were delivered to cars all around me for 90 minutes until mine arrived. What is the appropriate pandemic response to this?

I started out patient, then irritated and then I began to remember the conversations with dozens of people over the past week. I heard fear about jobs, the economy, investments, of being sick alone in hospital, of dying alone. I heard hope for a good outcome, for changes in society and life in a healthier direction.

But I heard stress in the midst of it all – stress in sleeping badly, in cracks in marriage and family, managing too much work, managing too little work and boredom, eating and drinking in unhealthy ways, about restrictions on time and space.

Jesus’ friends who were processing the news about his resurrection can connect with all this. Over more than a week they heard news of sightings, had their own experiences of the risen Jesus but all the gospel writers mention doubts in the midst of their joy and hope.

One of the last things Jesus said to them was “Remember I am always with you”. He said this as he was about to make no more physical appearances but was promising his presence in the darkest and brightest days they would face in the future.

That same risen Jesus says to us “I am with you”.

A Prayer for Today

Loving God who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, give us the same hopeful courage and joy that the women in the garden experienced in their dark days. Let us know that after darkness is life and after death is resurrection and new life. Remind us of your presence as we cope with uncertainty about just about everything. Let us love as we are loved …. For Jesus’ sake