Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Whatever our ‘home’ looks like
God knows our heart
and comforts us
to be for others
that same comfort
1 Kings 8:39
Only you, Lord, know what is in every human heart.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.
Words of Grace For Today
Jesus says, “Let your hearts not be troubled” in the Gospel for last Sunday, and Pastor Ingrid, www.trinity-lutheran.ca, in last Sunday’s sermon, asked for us all, “You’ve got to be kidding! Are you serious!?!” (These are perhaps close to her words:)
When asked what troubles our hearts we consider our full situation these days …
and answer “You ask what troubles your hearts today? Are you kidding? Are you serious?
“Do you know what is happening in our lives and in our world?
“We live in the midst of a global crisis. We live lives separated from our loved ones, concerned about our financial security, concerned about elderly parents or family members abroad, and concerned about the way our children have to grow up.
“We feel: overwhelmed, isolated, powerless, off balance, and thoughts spinning in our heads.
“My heart is troubled. I think of the pandemic. I think about immigrants nad refugees. I think about gun violence, racism, and poverty. [I would add, the growing blaming, hatred and hate speech online and elsewhere.] I think about those grieving and mourning lingering illness and death of loved ones. I think about families who are struggling and people who are hanging on by a thread.
“And I feel overwhelmed, isolated, powerless. and off balance, with thoughts spinning in my head.
“And you ask what’s troubling our hearts today. Are you kidding me, Jesus. Are you serious about that!?!”
(If you are looking for great music, thought provoking sermons, and meaningful worship – though the liturgy is missing – look to Trinity’s online worship.)
When this is what’s troubling our hearts, can it possibly be that Jesus responds to us by telling us to not yet our hearts be troubled!?!
The truth of the matter is Jesus knows our hearts better than we ourselves.
The truth of the matter is Jesus comforts us exactly where and how our hearts are troubled.
The truth is the Holy Spirit inspires us to extend the love and grace of eternal comfort and good hope to everyone we meet …
and with the internet, to so many people we’ve never met, and who may never meet.
Good work and words …
Being kind …
Listening and learning …
Ready or not the future we feared has arrived and demands more of us …
God has made us ready.
Now we need to be bold.
The Holy Spirit lights a fire under us everyday, not just a light on our heads like angels.