Eastertide
April 21, 2017
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9
In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. –1 Peter 1:6-9
William Shakespeare in the Tempest included a line “What’s past is prologue.” The past talked about in the play led to murder. Jesus understood the certainty of his own crucifixion just as he understood that critical event forever reshaped the past and thus changed the prologue. Life is difficult but with faith fed by hope and love, we now know the inevitable link between negative pasts predicting negative futures can and is severed by the extraordinary love of God through Jesus Christ.
When is Jesus Christ revealed? The phrase from our scripture today could be read to mean sometime in the future. I believe it means that future is unfolding now. The woman who stood in the church, designed to serve inner-city homeless, reporting she had been sober for two days revealed Christ at work. The child who donates his stuffed toy as a gift for children in harm’s way is Christ revealed. The water well drilled in the Congo to assure safe, accessible water for a community is Christ revealed. The provision of steel toed boots to enable homeless, unemployed persons to work is Christ revealed. Food delivered to the elderly and disabled home-bound is Christ revealed. The child being tutored whose parents cannot read English is Christ revealed.
The salvation of our souls is achieved when we are made whole through Christ revealed today, tomorrow, and through eternity.
Prayer: Lord help us to see you in all that we do and say. Guide us in helping others know the wondrous nature of your gift of grace. Make us whole, make us one. Amen.