All Saints Day , Veterans Day and Thanks giving. It is November. Everywhere we look things are changing. The days are cooler the color of the leaves are changing and our focus is on thanking God for what we have been given. Especially, the wonderful people in our lives. We are impacted by so many people in a life time it is hard for us to remember all of them. But each one is or was a gift from God.
Is amazes me how natural it is to feel the joy and excitement over new things. That joy often motivates us and gives us a new or renewed focus. But loss does just the opposite. It drains us. Grief is exhausting. It often robs us of our motivation.
Driving through the storm debris can also have that effect. It is overwhelming. So much damage so many people in need. Where do we/I start. It seems impossible. When it happens to you it hits like running into a brick wall and stops you dead in your tracks. You are forced to admit there is nothing I can do to fix this. Homes and things can be repaired and replaced, but people cannot. There is nothing we can do to undo death or the loss of a loved one.
I that is why this season is so important. It forces us to remember that Jesus conquered death. He gives us the gift of His presence even in the midst of the destruction. The resurrected Jesus appears to Thomas and says, “Here I am. Touch me and see. I am alive. Stop doubting and believe.” St. Paul tells us that Jesus is the first fruit of the resurrection. We too shall be raised for the dead. Jesus undoes death. It is swallowed in victory.
St. John says, “I heard a loud voice coming from the throne of God saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men and He will live with them. They will be his people. … He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’
We can’t fix this my friends. But Jesus has already fixed it. So we remember our heros of faith and country and we thank god for the blessing they were knowing Jesus is making everything new. Even the dead are raised.
Is amazes me how natural it is to feel the joy and excitement over new things. That joy often motivates us and gives us a new or renewed focus. But loss does just the opposite. It drains us. Grief is exhausting. It often robs us of our motivation.
Driving through the storm debris can also have that effect. It is overwhelming. So much damage so many people in need. Where do we/I start. It seems impossible. When it happens to you it hits like running into a brick wall and stops you dead in your tracks. You are forced to admit there is nothing I can do to fix this. Homes and things can be repaired and replaced, but people cannot. There is nothing we can do to undo death or the loss of a loved one.
I that is why this season is so important. It forces us to remember that Jesus conquered death. He gives us the gift of His presence even in the midst of the destruction. The resurrected Jesus appears to Thomas and says, “Here I am. Touch me and see. I am alive. Stop doubting and believe.” St. Paul tells us that Jesus is the first fruit of the resurrection. We too shall be raised for the dead. Jesus undoes death. It is swallowed in victory.
St. John says, “I heard a loud voice coming from the throne of God saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men and He will live with them. They will be his people. … He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’
We can’t fix this my friends. But Jesus has already fixed it. So we remember our heros of faith and country and we thank god for the blessing they were knowing Jesus is making everything new. Even the dead are raised.
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