04 10 April Thought For The Week:

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04 – 10 April 2021

Thought For The Week:

Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed! This is the greeting that will echo across the world today, as it has for centuries since that first Easter Sunday morning. Today is the day that we have been moving towards since the start of Advent at the end of November, and it is the day that will guide our journey forward through the rest of the year. The Easter Season itself is fifty days, taking us to the great celebration of Pentecost.

Following that, we will move into Ordinary Time - the season of learning how to live out our faith in resurrection in the midst of our daily lives. All of which raises some important questions for us. What does resurrection mean for us today? If it is nothing more than some mysterious, magical event that happened two millennia ago, then our celebration is pretty empty. If Christ’s resurrection is just a doorway to some personal realm of bliss after we die, then it also has little to offer us now. But the New Testament argues that resurrection is not just something that happened to Jesus. It is something that has always been built into the universe and that touches every part of creation. You and I, heaven and earth, animal and plant - we are all resurrected, and we all participate in resurrection life. Resurrection is not so much an event as it is the basic, underlying principle of all life. Resurrection is not so much a past miracle as it is a present, lived reality, and a source of hope for the future - whatever it may hold, both this side of the grave and beyond. Resurrection is not just something we receive, but a moving, motivating force that turns us into life-givers carrying life into our world in whatever way we can.

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This week, why not open yourself to God’s resurrection life at every moment, in every situation, and with every interaction you experience?

Easter Sunday 04 April 2021 READ:

Mark 16:1-8

REFLECT:

The ending of Mark’s Gospel has been the source of much debate among scholars for a very long time. Today, though, most scholars agree that the Gospel originally ended at verse 8, with the final verses from verse 9 being added later by an unknown writer or editor. This does not mean that the final verses are not Scripture or that God does not still speak through them. It just means that we need to recognise that the original writer’s thoughts only took him as far as the events in verse 8 and then others expanded his thinking into the verses that follow. What is so challenging about today’s reading is that, where the other Gospels end with triumph and celebration, Mark’s ends abruptly and with fear. The women who have gone to the tomb to finish preparing Jesus’ body for burial (since things were so rushed when he was laid in the tomb before the Sabbath) are overwhelmed by his absence and by the young man who tells them that Jesus is risen. They are fearful because they have never encountered such a thing before, and they don’t know what it means. They are awed by the magnitude of the events they are witnessing. The way verse 8 ends, it’s like the resurrection has interrupted their world, and they suddenly find

themselves in a whole new reality, with a whole new mission - to share what they have seen with others.

This is exactly what resurrection is like. When we realise that this same resurrection life is at work in us, we cannot help but be overwhelmed. And, when we realise that God wants us to share God’s life with others,

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our personal agendas are interrupted, and we discover that we have a whole new mission. How is God calling you to live the resurrection today?

DO:

It’s a little strange to think of awe as a practice. Usually, awe is a reaction to some event or experience that is beyond our ability to grasp fully. However, as followers of Christ, awe can and should be a

characteristic that we nurture through regular practice. Today, seek to nurture your own sense of awe through praise, thanksgiving and mindfulness.

PRAY:

Dear Jesus, fill me with awe at your amazing, resurrected life.

Monday 05 April 2021 READ:

1 Corinthians 15:35-49

REFLECT:

1 Corinthians 15, which we will explore today and tomorrow, is Paul’s great teaching about resurrection. It’s a good idea to read it slowly and carefully, because there is a lot there, and it can easily be

misunderstood. There is a very clear message, though - the resurrection of Jesus is not a once-off event. Rather, it is a pattern that we are all invited to follow. We are all designed to be resurrection beings! Don’t be confused by the words “spiritual bodies” which some translations use. This does not mean that we lose our physicality and become some sort of disembodied ghost. Perhaps a better way to think of what Paul is teaching here is to speak of immortal bodies. The point is that our whole beings, including our bodies, are destined for eternity. When we die, we are like seeds being sown into the ground, to be

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raised into a whole new order of life - like an acorn becoming an oak tree!

This is a reason for joy and hope, but it’s also a challenge. Because the seeds of eternity are already within us, we don’t have to wait until we die to experience God’s resurrection life. We can begin to open ourselves to life - whole, vibrant, abundant life - now. Today, why not look for new ways to open yourself to resurrection life?

DO:

Thanksgiving is a practice that builds our faith and opens our hearts to God’s life. As we reflect on the resurrection this week, give thanks for Christ’s life, but also express your gratitude for the seeds of eternity that live within you.

PRAY:

Thank you, God, for making me eternal and for teaching me to trust in your life.

Tuesday 06 April 2021 READ:

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

REFLECT:

We continue with Paul’s resurrection sermon. There are two truths that stand out in today’s section. Firstly, we all need to be transformed if we are to enter God’s resurrection life - and the transformation needs to happen through our entire being. And secondly, because of the hope and the life that we know we have in Christ, nothing we do for God is ever useless! (See verse 58). On the contrary, once we have been captured by a vision of eternity, we know that what we do now has eternal impact. The thoughts, words, and actions of our daily lives will leave eternal marks on the universe.

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This is both exciting and scary. It means that even the smallest act of love and grace has value for God’s mission to bring the universe to wholeness. It also means that we get to participate in God’s saving work. As we allow God’s life to transform us - starting now, not only when we die - we become instruments of resurrection in God’s hands, bringing life and transformation into the world. What an awesome privilege to be co-workers with God like this, and to share in God’s work of resurrection!

Today, try to remember, in everything you do, that your actions have eternal impact.

DO:

Every day we are faced with a choice. We can choose to live only for the moment, considering nothing but what we can see, feel, hear, and taste. Or we can live as eternal beings, recognising the eternal impact that our lives have. Perhaps, today, you’d like to choose to dedicate yourself to living for eternity.

PRAY:

Today, I dedicate myself to live as a child of eternity!

Wednesday 07 April 2021 READ:

Song of Songs 3:1-11 (Some versions: Song of Solomon)

REFLECT:

The Song of Songs is a love poem, traditionally believed to have been written by Solomon. It celebrates the glory of both human love and (metaphorically) the love between God and God’s people. As a poem it is sometimes difficult to interpret. Some scholars view it as the story of a love triangle between a young woman, her shepherd lover and the king. Others believe that the king and the lover are one and the same.

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Whichever scenario the writer intended, for our purposes today, the Divine Shepherd is revealed to us as both Lover and King.

The first image in today’s reading has the young woman searching for her lover. This scene resonates with the search of Mary for Jesus after she encountered the empty tomb. But, in her search, as she questioned the One whom she believed to be the gardener, she finally found the risen Christ - even as the young woman in the Song finally found her lover. But, then the scene in the Song changes to a glorious procession of the King’s chariot. In much the same way, as we encounter the Risen Christ, we discover that the one who loves us more than life is also the Risen, Exalted Christ. It is a great mystery, and an awesome gift, that the God who conquers death comes to us as Lover and Friend.

Today, why not follow Mary’s example and be a searcher for Christ, looking for signs of the resurrection in every place and person?

DO:

When we’re searching for God, the first practice we need to adopt is that of listening for God’s presence and voice. Sometimes we listen with our eyes, as we meditate on the symbols and images of the Scriptures or of our worship. Today, practice listening with your whole being as you invite the Risen Jesus into your life again.

PRAY:

As I search for you, O Christ, make your Risen Presence known to me again today.

Thursday 08 April 2021 READ:

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REFLECT:

Today we begin our preparations for Sunday. The effects of the

resurrection continue to be the focus of our meditations, but this Sunday the emphasis is on how God’s resurrection life draws us into community with one another. It is always this way with life - it connects. Today’s reading from Acts gives us a picture of what a resurrection-community looks like, and it’s a marvellous vision!

The first disciples, inspired and empowered by God’s Spirit and the resurrection life they had received in Christ, begin to share their lives in deep and profound ways. They share hospitality and meals, ensuring that no one goes hungry. They share in prayer and worship, and they care for one another in practical ways. It is this unity and mutual love that made such an impact on the people around them that people

constantly sought to join. The Bible says that new people became part of their community daily – in spite of the persecution that they experienced. How does your love for other followers of Christ reflect God’s grace and love to the world? How can you commit yourself a little more to sharing your life with a community of faith?

DO:

Once we have become part of what Paul calls “the Body of Christ” - the Christian community - we are always connected, even when we’re alone. Remembering this is an important part of following Jesus. Today, take time to remember your place within the community of faith.

PRAY:

Thank you, O God, for bringing me into a community where your love is expressed to me through others - and to them through me.

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Friday 09 April 2021 READ:

Psalm 133

REFLECT:

This short Psalm is one of my favourites. It celebrates the unity of God’s people, using imagery that may be a little strange for us today. Aaron, of course, was the first high priest in the Tabernacle when Israel became a nation wandering in the wilderness. The oil that runs down his beard and onto his robe refers to his anointing, his commissioning, and

empowering to do his work. Oil is one of the symbols of God’s Spirit in the Bible, and this image speaks of God’s Spirit at work in God’s people who are represented by their high priest. Unity, then, opens us to

worship, to connecting with God, and to being empowered by God’s Spirit. When we commit to this unity, God’s commands a blessing - life for evermore.

Once again, the Scriptures invite us to remember that the resurrection life that God offers us is not an individual gift but is to be shared in community. In fact, it seems that we cannot really experience God’s life unless we are connected to others. When we learn unity, we find life. When we separate ourselves, we lose life. The resurrection that comes to us through Christ brings life to us, but also to all of creation. As we enter Christ’s life, we inevitably find ourselves becoming more aware of our connectedness to all things, and more concerned to care for, and share life with, all that God has made.

How can you commit to being united with others and with all of creation in a new way today?

DO:

Whenever we fail to experience unity, it is only as a result of one thing - our sinful self-centredness. The cure for this is humble confession, to God and to those we hurt in our need to separate ourselves. Perhaps today

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you may need to take some time to confess when you have separated yourself from others?

PRAY:

Forgive me, O God, when I rob myself and others of life by separating myself.

Saturday 10 April 2021 READ:

John 12:44-50

REFLECT:

Jesus was bold in his proclamation that he revealed God to women and men. When we look at Jesus, we see God - God’s character, God’s purposes, God’s values. Notice how Jesus makes sure that we know that he has not come to judge, but to save. This is so important that he

repeats it a few times in John’s Gospel. Notice, also, that when he does speak of judgement, it is not really God who judges, but truth - we are judged, really, by whether we embrace the truth of Christ or not. But the judgement is really more of a consequence than a punishment. God doesn’t punish, so much as allow us to face the consequences of our choices. This is what Jesus reveals.

The picture of God that we see in Jesus is gracious, loving, serving, and deeply committed to justice. Whenever we believe that God is different from this picture, we have fallen into idolatry - believing things about God that are unworthy of God (as A.W. Tozer put it). If our God is less compassionate or peaceful, less just or gracious than Jesus, we haven’t yet seen God as revealed in Jesus properly. Perhaps the two things that reveal God most profoundly in Jesus’ life are his death on the cross and his resurrection - and both reveal a depth of grace and love that is eternal, unconditional, and beyond our human understanding.

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Take some time today to meditate on Jesus and allow him to reveal God to you a little more.

DO:

One of the reasons we bring such suffering on one another in our world today is that we have forgotten how to see God in one another and in our world. Today, pray for eyes to see the God that Jesus revealed in others and in your world.

PRAY:

Teach me to see you, to know you, to love you and to follow you, Jesus.

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