It's the 30th April - already ten days since Easter Sunday, and nine since we woke to the news of Pope Francis' death. Unbelievably, it's only a few days since his funeral. Time has simultaneously passed with slowness and surprising rapidity. Here in the UK our weather has unexpectedly catapulted us into a short, sudden burst of summer, filled with sunshine and blooming with roses and wisteria - but looks set to return us to late spring within a few days of entering May! Yes, despite the blue skies, laburnum and clematis, it is only ten days since Easter - although that also means we're already one-fifth into Eastertide's fifty days.
And within late spring's delightful, greening, burgeoning new life, they have been days of sadness and loss, uncertainty and speculation, as we not only come to terms with our collective bereavement, but also pray and wonder about the Church's future leadership and direction.
Yes, Jesus is risen: he is here among us, living within and around us; continuing to offer us those moments of encounter and transformation, in his great and everlasting love. Continuing, too, to call us anew; to fill us with purpose and mission, for the sake of all that is blessed and broken in our Church and in our world.
Where and how have you known the steadfast, transformative presence and love of the risen Jesus in these days?
I met Jesus in the heart that moved a man to run across a parking lot and grab my husband and me as I struggled to hold my husband upright while he was falling over, pulling the rolling walker and bringing us down. This man pstopped the fall, surrounded my husband with strong arms, and shepherded us across the parking lot, up an elevator , and safely into our car. We ended in hug. This interracial encounter was not strange- I saw his cross among his gold chains and caring was in his heart and his love and instinctive response to a seen need made Jesus alive right there. Please hold Cedric Heigh in your prayers. I don’t know how to find him to thank him!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this, Linda - what a blessing Cedric was at that moment, and will continue to be, as you recall his practical, loving kindness. And whether you ever find him or not, I'm sure he is benefiting from your grateful prayers for him!
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