e-vo for May 28

Dearest e-votees,

One of the texts that is assigned for this Sunday (Pentecost Sunday) is John 20:19-23.  The disciples are hunkered down behind a locked door barricading themselves against a fear-inducing world.  They are unsettled and anxious and Jesus comes in to strike up a conversation.  

Peace,

Karl

------------

The disciples are hiding.  They are afraid of what might happen in the aftermath of Easter.  They have locked themselves inside trying to put distance between themselves and the world.  They are anxious and ill at ease.

Jesus comes through the locked door.  (so much for Jesus merely standing at the door knocking waiting for someone to open the door to him--see Revelation 3:20).

Jesus comes in and offers them a word of peace.  He shows them his wounds as proof that it is really him and that he has truly risen from the dead.

He offers them another word of peace and says that as he has been sent from the Father so he is sending the disciples as well.  He is sending them out into the world that they had been cowering from.

Jesus not only offers peace but breathes into them the Holy Spirit.  With that equipping he says that they have the power to forgive and retain sins.  The implication, as I read it, is that they are going out into the hostile world and are to bear forgiveness.  They are to follow Jesus' example from the cross of praying for and offering forgiveness to those who have sought to harm them.

We are living in a world that can seem very threatening (not just COVID-19 but that too).  It is reasonable to have concern and maybe even fear going outside the safety of our homes and churches.  We might well want to lock ourselves in and stay as safe as possible.  Jesus knows us and understands our hesitations and our concerns.  He cares for us and loves us to the core.

Jesus says to us this day "Peace".  Jesus will help us come to faith in his resurrection and to receive the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Those words are for us to be sure.  But they are not for us alone.  We are called to bear that peace and the work of the Holy Spirit out into the world.

The gift of the Holy Spirit is alive and at well in us.  It brings us to faith.  It reminds us of all that Jesus has taught and stirs us to give compelling testimony.  It blows life into our fears, our shame and our existence.  We are made new and sent just as Jesus sent the disciples.

.

God, blow your Holy Spirit into us and through us.  Ground us in your peace and bless all the ways we can offer and share your peace and the work of the Holy Spirit in all our dealings with the world.  Calm our fears and be glorified in our lives.  Amen.