Aren't we all looking for a little bit or a lotta bit of peace these days? Russia is waging war in Ukraine, Covid is still waging its own war on the unvaccinated and immune compromised, racially motivated murders are news yet again, the west is on fire and water is scarce there, and the TV talking heads argue and divide our nation down every line possible. These things trouble our hearts and make us fearful. They make us question God's love and where he is in all of this hard scary stuff!
The same was true of the time when Jesus said these words to his disciples. Their land was occupied by the Romans and violence, poverty, disease, and lack of autonomy and freedom were part of their every day lives. Good people struggled to make a life for themselves and their families. They certainly didn't deserve the hardships that they faced.
And in this piece of Scripture, Jesus is telling his disciples that he is leaving them! "What the heck?! You just came back to us, and you are leaving AGAIN?!" BUT he is not leaving them alone. He gives them the peace of the Good News; that love always wins, that life conquers death. In next Sunday's Gospel Jesus tells his disciples that he will be with them always and then Pentecost happens and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit comes to dwell not just among them but within them! God as close to them as their very breath... don't be afraid, I am with you...
Think about whatever is troubling you right in this very moment. Imagine Jesus offering you his peace and saying these words to YOU as you breathe deeply, "Do not let your heart be troubled, do not be afraid. I am with you."
Repeat as needed.
This morning I read the chapter in our Laidback Book Club selection, THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, entitled "I Will Fear No Evil for Thou Art with Me." How fitting with our Gospel for the week!! I think that as human beings we are always trying to figure out why bad things are happening and who we should blame for them... myself, my neighbor, immigrants, Vladimir Putin, Democrats, Republicans, God... BUT on pages 110-111 Harold S. Kushner says, "You don't have to understand the world and everything in it to make it a better place... When we choose to affirm life in the face of loss, to affirm goodness in the face of evil, we are on God's side. He is with us and we are with Him, and the future does not frighten us."
So today, let's breathe in God's Spirit and affirm life and goodness. Let's look to a future built on love of our neighbors, and live with courage in knowing that we are loved by a God who never leaves us alone.
It takes A LOT of faith to trust God, but over and over again throughout Salvation History God has proven that he is trustworthy. And no one has ever modeled faith and trust in God the way that Mary did!! May is one of our MARY MONTHS, and I haven't said much about that lately. Yesterday, Kristyn gave an awesome presentation about Mary through historical, Biblical, and imaginative lenses. It was fantastic! One of the musical selections was called PEACE by Poor Bishop Hooper. This is a song about the Annunciation and at the end, the lyrics keep repeating, "And his peace shall be everlasting..." Brings us right back to the quote at the top of the note: "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you." ENJOY!
BEAUTIFUL THINGS ARE HAPPENING
PRAYING IN NATURE
May 25 at 10:00 am and 5:30 join Lyn Pajk at the Nature Center for prayer and a song before heading out to the trails. Please RSVP to Lyn to ensure she has enough prayer guides
https://www.blessed-midland.org/2022/04/21/prayer-walk/
Join your Blessed Sacrament Family for our third annual taste of summer bike ride on Sunday, June 12!
We are gathering at the Tridge at 1:00 and will roll our way to Cottage Creamery via our bikes, scooters, skates, skateboards. Bring a non-perishable food item for the Emergency Food Pantry Network and receive a coupon for a free small soft serve cone or $2 off hand scooped treats! **If the distance is too much for you, please just join us at Cottage Creamery between 1:30 and 2:00 and celebrate being together. A special “Thank You” to Dave and Patty Kepler for sponsoring the event!
The Universe is Bigger Than You Think and So Is God’s Love!
Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what God was up to out there? Join Father Rob and Edmund Stark at 7:00 on June 23 as they expand our minds with the vastness of the Universe and expand our hearts with the limitless nature of God’s love. Save the date! Registration begins next week.
Come celebrate the beauty of God’s creation by joining us for a garden stroll on Sunday, June 26 from 1:00-4:00.
These parishioners are generously inviting you to enjoy their gardens as well as the company of one another:
Sheryl & Bob Lane, the Labyrinth Garden:
329 Seminole Ct.
Amy Tolton, the Peaceful Garden:
1101 Whispering Oak
Indira & Ed Oskvarek, the Fragrant Garden:
3901 Concord St.
Cathy & Tim Richard, the Joyful Garden:
2 Lexington Ct.
You can visit the gardens in any order, but please be sure to register beginning next week by visiting the parish website or by calling the Parish Center.
Wishing you a weekend filled with all of the peace and beauty that God offers us in abundance,
lyn