Happy Easter, Valpo!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This past Sunday the (non-Orthodox Church) Christians in our community celebrated the amazing news: \u201cYou are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised!\u201d (Mark 16:6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the coming weeks we will be telling stories of Jesus Christ appearing to his followers \u2014 even to one who denied him (Peter); even to the one who openly doubted the news of the resurrection (Thomas); and even to someone who didn\u2019t follow him at all, who in fact worked against his followers (Saul of Tarsus, soon to become Paul).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nI revel in the reminder in these stories: God doesn\u2019t save us, love us, or show up in our lives because we are good enough or have enough faith to deserve it; God just does what God wants to do!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s not about our worthiness; it\u2019s about God\u2019s grace and God\u2019s desires for us and the world. God loves, and God shows up, and God changes the world.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
As we begin this season of remembering stories of the resurrected Christ appearing, let\u2019s take a moment to remember the ways that Jesus has promised to appear among us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- Jesus Promises to Appear in the Church<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
St. Paul loved to call the Church the \u201cBody of Christ.\u201d This is full of meaning: it reminds us that we belong to Christ (Rom. 7:4<\/a>); it reminds us that we are so connected to one another (Rom. 12:4-5)<\/a>. It also reminds us that when people are looking for Christ in the world, they look to the Church. \u201cSo we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us\u2026\u201d (2 Cor. 5:20). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This reflects what Jesus promises as he said goodbye to his disciples: \u201cI am with you always, to the end of the age\u201d (Matt. 28:20).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- Jesus Promises to Appear in Those In Need<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This is a great mystery: Jesus appears in the Church through the way we reflect his love and mission, especially how we serve those in need; Jesus also promises to appear in those who are in need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2018Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?\u2019 And the king will answer them, \u2018Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me\u2019\u201d (Matt. 25:37-40).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe mystery of the poor is this: That they are Jesus<\/a>\u201d (Dorothy Day).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- Jesus Promises to Appear in Holy Communion<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
At the Last Supper, Jesus said of the bread, \u201cThis is my body,\u201d and of the wine, \u201cThis is my blood of the covenant\u201d (Mark 14:22-24).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Martin Luther, this language was crystal-clear: Christ promises to be present in the bread and the wine of Holy Communion in a unique way. He wrote: \u201c\u2026let us adhere to the words as they are read: that the body of Christ is present in the bread and that his blood is truly present in the wine. This does not mean that he is not present in other places also\u2026But it means that he wishes to make us certain as to where and how we are to lay hold of him\u201d ( from \u201cThe Sacrament of the Body and Blood \u2014 Against the Fanatics\u201d). Therefore Communion is a place to seek comfort and connection with the Body of Christ \u2014 both Christ himself and the Church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This Easter season let us look for Christ in the places he has promised to appear to us \u2014 and may Christ appear to others through us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
O Living Jesus<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
you are the next day of this crashed life<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
when we can no longer live<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
our lazy daydream life in and of and for ourselves<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
now we who follow you our brother and friend,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
eating broken-body-bread and bloodshed-wine<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
living in the ethereal Spirit of your haunting presence<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
now we find ourselves unexpectedly<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
mysteriously, resistantly, and joyfully<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
living Jesus as our new selves-in-action<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
out of control in loving and giving and praising<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
and out of our minds in following you<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
where ever your next crazy offering<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
of yourself-in-us may be<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[Closing prayer by Michael Coffey in Mystery Without Rhyme or Reason: Poetic Reflections on the Lectionary, <\/em>(Eugene: Resource Publications, 2015).]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pr. Kate<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rev. Katherine Museus Dabay<\/a> serves as university pastor at the Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso University and takes turns writing weekly devotions with University Pastor James A. Wetzstein.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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