For Fear

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the religious authorities, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ John 20:19-23

The Monday after Easter is often the day that clergy try to catch up on sleep and chores left undone. Although Christ is risen indeed, clergy are often spent, exhausted and fractured. Holy week can prove to be overwhelming to many, despite the great passion and joy the season provides. They often don't share that with others, choosing rather to crawl back into bed or hide until their strength and spirit returns. The disciples were in the same boat. Exhausted, depleted and fearful. They had heard of the stone rolled away, they had rejoiced in the hope of the resurrection, yet they had much to worry about, and no deep feeling of comfort and peace. And, it is into this shut down moment, when hearts are on the ground, that Jesus comes with peace, for the disciples and all of us.

Blessed Creator, you entered fully into humanity

walking in dusty roads and being broken open

you knew great faith and joys as well as betrayal

and died for us all so we might freely live in peace.

We often bear our burden silently, shutting out others

we fail to seek you in our fear and broken hours

we too often trust our capacity alone until we fail

and then wallow in our suffering and our self pity.

Yet you came to your terrified friends and did not scold

instead you leaned in and breathed on each of them

changing their deep sorrow and doubt into great joy

and renewing their love for one another and the world. Amen.