November 25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever
believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone
who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe
this?” John 11: 25-26
Nearly all of us have experienced this or most likely will – the death of a loved one – the heart breaking, gut wrenching loss of someone so dear and so close, that it is all but impossible to think about life continuing on without them. For many of us our faith is shaken at that time as well . . . not in the beginning perhaps, when the rituals of our different Faiths see us through the mourning process, but later, once the routine of daily life begins to settle in and the expectations of our society and life push us forward. The reality that they are not coming back hits full force, and although we may have “known” all along that this is true, until it is experienced, one cannot imagine the overwhelming feelings of frustration and loneliness, let alone grief. Some begin to question beliefs that once were held on to with great confidence
Then, Jesus calls to us. Throughout His ministry He spoke about eternal life - of the value of “us” and of our spirits, and even went so far as to demonstrate that meaning, not only in His bringing Lazarus back to life in an attempt to make plain what He was teaching them, and to prove that He was sent by God; but also in the very death and resurrection of Himself. Then, He took it a step further! At the Pentecost, The Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles in that room, as proof again of His presence, this time in the manifestation of Spirit. (Acts 2:4) How good God is to us! Jesus has literally taken us by the hand and walked us through the continuance of life. He wants us to know - to understand without a doubt, His constant love for us, and to trust in Him that it does not end.
All He asks of us is to believe. It brings to mind a slogan that has been present around Christmas time for a few years involving the movie The Polar Express. Ornamental items all embellished with the word “Believe” on them, soon came to mean much more to many of us, as the emblazoned word became viewed as a symbol of hope; and isn’t that what our Faith is all about? We hope in the Lord; we hope for eternal life; we hope to be reunited with our loved ones once again. But for me what is most important here is: do I believe this? What do you believe?
Living God, we ask that our hope and faith in You is renewed each day, that we may truly Believe!
Copyright© 2013 Kathleen A. Matson
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever
believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone
who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe
this?” John 11: 25-26
Nearly all of us have experienced this or most likely will – the death of a loved one – the heart breaking, gut wrenching loss of someone so dear and so close, that it is all but impossible to think about life continuing on without them. For many of us our faith is shaken at that time as well . . . not in the beginning perhaps, when the rituals of our different Faiths see us through the mourning process, but later, once the routine of daily life begins to settle in and the expectations of our society and life push us forward. The reality that they are not coming back hits full force, and although we may have “known” all along that this is true, until it is experienced, one cannot imagine the overwhelming feelings of frustration and loneliness, let alone grief. Some begin to question beliefs that once were held on to with great confidence
Then, Jesus calls to us. Throughout His ministry He spoke about eternal life - of the value of “us” and of our spirits, and even went so far as to demonstrate that meaning, not only in His bringing Lazarus back to life in an attempt to make plain what He was teaching them, and to prove that He was sent by God; but also in the very death and resurrection of Himself. Then, He took it a step further! At the Pentecost, The Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles in that room, as proof again of His presence, this time in the manifestation of Spirit. (Acts 2:4) How good God is to us! Jesus has literally taken us by the hand and walked us through the continuance of life. He wants us to know - to understand without a doubt, His constant love for us, and to trust in Him that it does not end.
All He asks of us is to believe. It brings to mind a slogan that has been present around Christmas time for a few years involving the movie The Polar Express. Ornamental items all embellished with the word “Believe” on them, soon came to mean much more to many of us, as the emblazoned word became viewed as a symbol of hope; and isn’t that what our Faith is all about? We hope in the Lord; we hope for eternal life; we hope to be reunited with our loved ones once again. But for me what is most important here is: do I believe this? What do you believe?
Living God, we ask that our hope and faith in You is renewed each day, that we may truly Believe!
Copyright© 2013 Kathleen A. Matson