Eastertide
May 6, 2016
Scripture Reading: Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’
And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.’
And let everyone who is thirsty come.
Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
The one who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen. –Revelation 22:17, 20-21
We are all called to declare the good news of the love of God as manifested through Jesus Christ. We are all called to drink of the water that Christ gives that becomes in us a spring of water gushing up to eternal life (John 4:14). We are all assured that the grace of the Lord Jesus is with us in all that we do in his name. So why do we feel discouraged?
If our political situation were not so dead serious, it would be comical. I remember laughing at the people described in the children’s book, The Emperor’s New Clothes by Hans Christian Anderson, who were so gullible that they believed the lie they were told. Remember the story? The emperor had been told that the clothing he was wearing could only be seen by the competent. He could not see it but he did not want to admit that so he paraded through the town undressed. All the people also had been told that they were incompetent if they could not see the clothing and even though they saw no clothing they cheered for the emperor as if they did see it. Finally, a child calls out that the emperor was wearing no clothing.
Now is the time that we remember whose we are. We serve the God of justice and mercy who sent God’s son to us as this gift of living water. We do not need to be afraid of the manipulations we face. We need to demand truth and we need to accept our responsibilities as citizens called to provide for the common good that is the only purpose of government. And yes, I know discerning the common good is not easy, but nothing worth doing ever is. When we turn around and seek God’s justice the path will be clearer.
Prayer: Lord, so quench our thirst for your righteousness that we are freed to pursue it with all diligence and with the sure and certain knowledge that you will be with us in the endeavor. Amen.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.