Monday, April 16, 2012 — Week of Easter 2
Mary (Molly) Brant (Konwatsijayenni), Witness to the Faith among the Mohawks, 1796
Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 959)
Psalms 1, 2, 3 (morning) // 4, 7 (evening)
Exodus 14:21-31
1 Peter 1:1-12
John 14:(1-7)8-17
[Go to http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html for an online version of the Daily Office including today’s scripture readings.]
There are many transitions in life. Change is complex and usually difficult.
The Israelites are trying to move from bondage into freedom. The whole enterprise is threatened by powers greater than their control. At the last moment they are saved. What relief. But now, they will enter a wilderness where they will have to learn to live with all of this new freedom. It will be so hard.
Peter writes to “the exiles of the Dispersion.” They are living the new life — “a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” They sense the promise. But right now, life is full of threat and foreboding. They are being tested by fire. The writer reminds them of Christ’s sufferings that were necessary before he could enter into his subsequent glory. You’ve seen things angels longed to look upon. But right now, things seem pretty overwhelming. Persevere. Hang on.
And Jesus speaks to troubled hearts. He tells them they know the way. They don’t feel like they know the way. Look at Jesus. He is the way. Or hear his words. They speak of the way. Or see his works. The point the way. Love one another. The Spirit abides in you.
So we remember who and whose we are. We remind ourselves that the present wilderness and threat is better than the former bondage and ignorance.
Life is difficult. We are always on the way. But Jesus is the journey and the journey’s end. It seems that he believes in us. That may be more important than our believing in him. He thinks we can not only survive but prevail. He tells us that we will do the works that he does, and even more. He invites us to imagine, and to ask, and to act. We have an Advocate. A Spirit with us.
Come on. Let’s go.