Sunday, May 10, 2020

Fifth Sunday of Easter

The Revised Common Lectionary passages for the Lord’s Day are:

First Reading: Acts 7:55-60
Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
Second Reading: I Peter 2:2-10
Gospel Reading: John 14:1-14

The liturgical color for the day is: White

Todd was gripping the armrest and planting his feet.  The Captain had come on the speaker and not only asked everyone to stay in their seats with their seatbelts on, but he had also asked the flight attendants to please take their seats as well.

The plane seemed to rise and then just drop.  It was as rough as could be.  It seemed to go on forever and it was just as frightening as could be.  It was that stomach-dropping feel, over and over again.  It felt as if the plane could just break apart any moment.

Todd, beside me, and the rest of us were hushed in fear.  One could just feel the tension in that cabin.  No one knew what was coming next.  It was not good.  This was the most harrowing of flights any of us had ever been on.

More towards the front of the plane there was a little boy.

And then the plane seemed to drop farther than it had ever dropped.  And with it our stomachs dropped too.  There was that little boy towards the front of the plane.  He broke the hushed fear.  He broke it as he burst out in laughter.  With each ripple, each decent, each shutter of the plane the boy laughed in glee as if he was on a carnival ride.

The panic on Todd’s face was transformed.  He laughed in response to the boy’s laugh.  Soon, with each shutter, each decent, each ripple—laughter broke out for everyone.

The fear turned to joy.  The terror had turned to glee.  The plummeting to death fear had been transformed into joyous expressions of life.

Anxiety became a thrill ride.  Questions and doubts and fear and needing some proof of safety became confidence and faith.

All strangers bound together around the laughter of a little boy—it was a community, a relationship.  Panic and dread became a passion for life in the moment.

…all because a little boy, in his laughter, somehow became the Word of God: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

What if, what if, that is what we are here to do right now?  What if we are to become the Word of God: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”  For in so doing, we embody the Word of God and Risen Christ and demonstrate that we are in this together.

Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena
General Presbyter and Stated Clerk