May 1 (Second of Easter) - John 20:19-31
What a difference your presence makes in our lives, Dear God! We can relate to the despair of the disciples the evening of your resurrection, gathered in a house whose doors had been closed "for fear of the Jews.' How many doors are there behind which we have hidden when we felt threatened along life's way? And how many times have you not then come among us to minister peace and hope as our Sovereign Lord? Remind me today and throughout this week that whenever and wherever you thus minister to us there follows a call for us to minister in your name to others. "As the Father has sent me," you declare, "so send I you." Even, if like Thomas, we demur--not having been where others were when you came--you come again to reveal who you are and charge us once again, "Do not doubt, but believe." Lord, in your mercy, help us not only to respond in faith but to heed your call and share in your mission. Amen.
May 8 (Third of Easter) - Luke 24:13-35
How is it, Lord, that you always find us wherever we are? And why is it that you are forever seeking us out, even when we are not seeking you? The two on Emmaus Road were just as much in despair at the disciples were in that house whose doors were closed "for fear of the Jews."
These were traveling away from Jerusalem, despairing because you were the one for whom they had hoped, and unaware of your resurrection they felt abandoned and fearful themselves. So often do we, Lord, even knowing that you are risen from the dead. But you keep coming, among them and among us, even when at first we do not recognize that it is you.
Open our eyes, Lord, as you opened theirs. Rekindle the faith with us in the breaking of bread, and stay and abide with us ever after until our hearts also burn within us and we are infused by you with one holy passion to share the good news with others. Amen.
May 15 (Fourth of Easter) - John 10:1-10
Am I a shepherd after your own heart, O God, one to whom you regularly open the gate to your sheepfold? An do your sheep know and respond to the sound of my voice? Or am I only a thief and a bandit, intent more on seeking my own privilege than caring about the flock you have assigned me?
Jesus claims that all who came before him were the latter. "I am the gate," he said. "Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. Thieves come only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly." Lord, I long to be that kind of a shepherd! Purge me of all other motives in the ministry to which you have called me. And so infuse me with your Spirit that I may serve not only the flock as a whole but every individual sheep within my flock as well. Amen.
May 22 (Fifth of Easter) - John 14:1-14
We look to you, Lord, for comfort, and we never look in vain. Over the years we have learned that to look elsewhere is futile--if not in the short run then surely in the long. Increase our faith in you and keep us from trusting completely in anything or anyone else. Like Thomas and Philip we often let what sounds reasonable to us take over in life. If it does not seem to us to be reasonable--to some provable--then surely it cannot be. Thank you for your patience with them and with us, which both evidences your love and answers our questions. Help us, Lord, in light of the promise here offered, to lay aside finally our fears of death and dying so that we may live in the hope you give us that the best is yet to be. You are indeed the way, the truth, and the life. To whom should we look, now and forever, but to you? Amen.
May 29 (Sixth of Easter) - John 5:1-9
Your questions of us, Lord, not unlike your question addressed to the man who had been ill for thirty-eight years, are always both inviting and penetrating--this one especially. "Do you want to be made well?" Who wouldn't, one wonders. yet some really don't. Not so this man, who for thirty-eight years had no one to help him get in to Bethzatha's pool when the waters were stirred.
"Someone always steps in ahead of me," he said wistfully. How true. We all want to be first in line, even if clearly others are far more in need that we are. Forgive us, Lord, from so centering on ourselves that we fail to see the truly needy around us.
We have heard recently of the patience of the Japanese people after all they have been through--never breaking rank in line for the food and medicines they so desperately need. Help us to be more like that when tragedies come our way.Above all, let us look to you for the healing you offer that never requires us to stand in line. Amen .
