1 Peter 5:6-11

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

This is part of today’s lectionary passage and I decided to use it in the morning prayer service.  It struck me deeply, especially where Peter says that, after we have suffered a little while, Christ will restore us.

That, my friends, is good news.  That is what we need to remember.  This situation will end, and God will restore us.  Maybe things will never be the same, maybe things need to change in a different way, but we will be restored.  By God. 

Please keep that in mind as we begin this new week of social distancing.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  Isaiah 43:1 

It’s not about being a Democrat or a Republican

It’s not about an evil socialist plot to take over the world

It’s not about an evil capitalist plot to take over the world

It’s not the fulfillment of misinterpreted prophecy

It is a virus

A very deadly virus

And it matters

On Friday April 17^th, 49 people in Pennsylvania died of Covid-19.

On Friday April 17^th, 8 people in Montgomery County died of Covid-19.

One of them was my mother.

Yes, she was elderly.  She just turned 88 on Monday the 13^th

Yes, she was in a nursing home.

Yes, she had dementia.

But she mattered.  To us, and to God.

Every one of those 8 deaths in Montgomery County mattered to God.

Every one of those 49 deaths in Pennsylvania mattered to God.

Every person who has died of Covid-19 matters to God.

Every person on this planet matters to God and therefore every person on this planet should matter to us – the followers of the Risen Christ.

Please stop the political arguing.  Please stop unsafe protesting.  Please stop jumping on each other online because you disagree.

Use the wisdom God has given you.  Be safe.  Disagree but do so in a civil and godly manner.

Remember you matter to God.  And so does the other person.  Even if they disagree with you.

May God quickly end this virus,

Pastor Bill

Luke 19:41-44

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

In my Aunt Marie’s living room hung a picture of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem.  I often wondered why Aunt Marie hung this picture, but lately, I’ve been thinking about it in a different way.

Is Jesus weeping over Morgantown, or Honey Brook or (insert YOUR town here)?  Do we hear Jesus reminding us of our doom when we turn from God?

Or are we just waiting for things to “get back to normal?”

While I am not one to fall prey to “prophecy mania”, I do wonder about Jesus’ thoughts on us today.  Will we make the changes we need to live simpler lives?  Will we just wait for the restrictions to be lifted and go back to our insane lives?  Will we try to be better?  Great questions that cannot be answered…yet.

But we can look to Jesus, we can envision Him crying over our towns and warning us to repent.

If only we would…

Peace,

Pastor Bill