Eastertide

May 23, 2020

Scripture Reading: John 17:1-11

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. –John 17:1-5

Glorify or honor means to value something or someone for what it really is. Our work in the name of God glorifies God before others. We do much more at introducing God to others by our actions than our words. We, too, are called to finish the work that God gave us to do. We first have to discern what that work is. Our work calling can change over time as we mature and develop new skills.

Blogs did not exist 25 years ago.  I can remember punching holes in cards used to run programs through mainframe computers 45 years ago. Federal law required the permanent maintenance of all records in some instances. My staff created a footstool for me out of those cards we could not destroy. We transferred the data years before to other devices. We also had nothing available that could even read them, but we still had to keep them.

Knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ is an honor to us. Our returning that honor in all that we do and say is the best way we have of glorifying God. Even last year, I would not have imagined that I would now be glorifying God by wearing a mask or keeping a distance from others. Recently as I become frustrated at taking recommended precautions about COVID 19, I remind myself that taking those precautions is one way I can glorify God working together to protect all of God’s children from the pandemic.

Prayer:  Lord, grant us the will to do your will in loving one another. 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.