NOW who's laughing?

 “Where now, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Grave, is

your sting?”—1 Corinthians 15



(C) Shawn Costello

 

This week, we pause to reflect on the past year. Allow the scarred hands of Jesus to touch and heal your tired, wounded heart. Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed! Alleluia!


Monday In this painting, where are your eyes drawn? To the lamb? To the Savior? Rest. Psalm 133

Tuesday There is a lot of discussion about what Jesus really looked like. When you imagine Jesus, what do you see? Consider journaling, and rest. 1 John 1:1-5

Wednesday Is there someone with whom you could talk about this painting? Reflect together on the power of art in our faith lives. Rest. 1 John 1:6-10

Thursday Remember when Jesus said, “Give to Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and to God, that which is God’s”? What does that mean to you? Rest. 1 John 2:1-2

Friday If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to go? What draws you to this particular place? Consider a “journey of the mind,” online or through library books. Rest. Acts 4:32-35

Saturday As you pray for yourself today, remember someone whom you loved, who has died. Allow yourself to feel whatever comes along. Rest. John 20:19-31

Sunday Easter lasts for a season, not just one Sunday. Commit yourself to joyful celebration today! Laugh out loud and sing with the radio if you like! Christ is risen! Rest in that Good News. Psalm 133 J

 

The person who can bring the spirit of laughter into a room [or a tomb] is indeed blessed. 

–Bennett Cerf

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Spiritual dehydration

  Inside myself is a place where I live all alone, and that is where I renew my springs that never dry up. –Pearl S. Buck   The past two years (at least) have been exhausting, haven’t they? We had a pandemic that physically left us anxious and afraid. Our churches, where we go for nourishment, were closed or online longer than we wanted—and even now, we are careful. Politically, we have been divided against one another, and those wounds are still bleeding in many cases. We need to take care of ourselves. And it’s never been more difficult. What to do? How do I make time in our busy schedules—for me ? The simple answer: Whatever it takes. Remember when we would fly to a vacation destination? How the flight attendant would remind us that if the cabin loses pressure, the oxygen masks would drop down out of the ceiling? And that before we offer to help anyone else, we need to have our own masks in place ? Good advice for life in general. Today: Pause. Take inventory ...
Read more

What are you waiting for?

  The waiting is the hardest part. –Tom Petty   We spend a lot of time waiting. Waiting for the coffee to finish dripping. Waiting for the light to turn green. Waiting for the next available agent. It’s inevitable, really. We cannot always be first, and if we aren’t first, we’ll have to wait. But I think the more important thing is to ask yourself: How am I at waiting? Do I find myself getting anxious and fidgety? Am I worrying about things not going the way I really need them to go? Is my attitude rubbing off on people around me? The best way to wait is not to worry where we are in line, or gripe about wasted time. The best way to wait—is to be right there , in the moment of waiting. The disciples waited in fear; we wait in hope. Why not use this waiting time to pray? Welcome God’s presence into your heart. Ask God to bring you into the moment. Inquire what God would ask of you in this moment . Thank God for wisdom, patience, humor. . . . Take a d-e...
Read more

Don't be afraid.

Living is a great deal more than simply not dying. It is carrying out a mission, committing oneself to fashion some meaning that will attain eternity. –Leonardo Boff When asked, “What are you afraid of?” we offer a myriad of answers: snakes, spiders, flying in an airplane. But when pressed, many people, believers and non-believers alike, will admit that the one thing they fear most, at the core of their being, is death. Most of us enjoy having control over our lives, and frankly, we have very little control over, or way of knowing, how or when our earthly journey will end. And we have even fewer concrete answers about what will happen next. We have the profession of our faith and the occasional “crossing-over” story—but. No wonder death is near the top of that list. But sometimes, as I look around, it seems like people are less fearful about dying—and more afraid of living. Really cutting loose and enjoying our time together as human beings privileged to live in God’s am...
Read more