Second Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:14a, 22-32
1 Peter 1:3-9
John 20:19-31
The great high celebration of Easter is for the most part a fading thought as the week has passed and we are now looking forward to the things of summer. But in the heart of the Church we are still deep within Easter. The proclamation of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ was the shout of the day; the amazing and hard to believe miracle of the power of God’s love that would not let the hatred and cruelty of humanity carry the day. Yet for all the good news of Jesus’ resurrection the haunting thought that lingers… what does this have to do with me, what does this have to do with you or for that matter for the world?
It was most likely a thought upon the minds of Jesus’ disciples as they tried to make sense of the news of the resurrection. Our gospel lesson finds them hidden behind locked doors fearful of the world. Jesus was risen, but what about them? The ones who had crucified Jesus were upset, for the body of the one they had killed was missing and no doubt those in power would in all likelihood come looking for the disciples… fearful the disciples must have wondered… are we next?
Into the midst of their fear Jesus comes among them. “Peace be with you” he says to this fearful lot. His words do not change the circumstances of a world gone mad yet for them something is about to change. John’s gospel does not wait for an ascension, there is no mighty wind or tongues of fire in this encounter, in a most intimate way the Risen Lord breathes upon them and declares, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” It is at this moment that Jesus commissions these disciples; “as the Father has sent me so I send you. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them, if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” The gospel of John brings with it a sense of urgency to go and tell and to be agents of the work of Jesus Christ to all the world. This indeed is the mission of the Church and indeed we take a lot of time here in the life of Grace to bring expression to the great work to which our Lord has called us to do.
Yet in the midst of the Easter message there is a question, that is desirous of an answer. What does Jesus’ resurrection mean for me? This is not a question of mission or ministry in fact some will argue it is a selfish question, but one that haunts us. Very frankly I worry that if we misunderstand the purpose of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection in regard to our personal lives, than all the good we may be called to do will in fact become twisted and distorted.
Our accompanying lessons from Acts 2, Psalm 16 and 1st Peter in fact help us to better understand what the work of Jesus means for us. The lesson from Acts is a portion of the story of the Pentecost, but since we will be focusing on Luke’s version of the coming of the Holy Spirit on June 8, I would like to examine a portion of Peter’s speech in which he reflects on verses of Psalm 16 because here we find a sense of what resurrection can mean for us. Now this gets a bit convoluted for it is Luke writing about Peter who is quoting a Psalm from David, who has written a poem of lament that is concluding with a message of hope. We are hearing ancient words that now bear meaning in light of the good news of Jesus’ resurrection…

Giving up Cancer for Lent

Prelude:
In November of this past year I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. Early in December I began hormone suppression therapy which essential starves the invasive cancer cells. So for December through early March my body has been a parched and barren land void of much of the life-giving hormones with which my particular cancer thrives. In March I began Radiation therapy.

Story:
Lent and Radiation therapy pretty much started at the sametime. Early in Lent one of the Doctors in the practice was conducting an follow up examine. She knew I was a pastor and asked if I made it a spiritual practice of giving things up for Lent. Off the top of my head I said “Yes, I’m giving up cancer for Lent!” At first the Doctor was a bit stunned and then she began to laugh and thought that was a good thing to give up for Lent.

In the days since that comment I have thought a lot about my flip answer and decided that there is a lot more to that comment than just merely trusting in the therapy being used to kill my cancer cells. In Lent I have chosen to not let a disease define my life or who I am; Not always an easy thing to do when many people seem to see me through “Cancer Colored Glasses.” Yet this malady is not the sum total of my life. In fact at present it is more of an inconvenience to my schedule. And my life is filled with so much more than cancer. My life, my faith, my friends and the joyful interaction of life are much more fulfilling.

As with most things in life I am learning that if we do not give over our lives to the bad things of life we are far more capable of living and in fact learning from the pilgrimage of such events. I have learned to trust my life to others depending upon the gifted doctors, technicians, nurses and staff who are truly agents of God bringing healing to my life. I am humbled and delight by my daily engagements with all of them. I have come to trust the good medical arts that are being applied and marvel at what we are capable of doing today in the field of medicine.

I am not yet at the point of being called a cancer survivor but I look forward to the day of being able to say with so many others those cherished words, “I survived cancer.” In the mean time I am on a journey while doing all the other things of life. While I don’t mind answering questions about what is going on in my life I sure hope people see me for more than the Cancer that I am giving up for Lent.

Well I have to close for it is time to go for Treatment!
Theme Song for starting each trip… Disco Inferno! And my favorite phrase in the song “Burn baby Burn!” I like putting those pesky cells on notice that they doomed!