Return With Joy

The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!’ He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’ At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’ Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.’ Luke 10:17-24

There are meetings and services I have returned from, even more exhausted than when I left. And there are other times, when the spirit has been so powerful, the people so joyful, and the days so full that I am restored and refreshed. Years ago, attending a deanery meeting in Point Lay, Alaska, in the depths of winter, I came away so joyful and revived. The travel was long and delayed, yet there was nothing that could dampen the spirit. Despite the challenges of extreme isolation, weather, and tremendously hard lives, the folks gathered there sang, danced and prayed with great spirit and deep joy. Too often we forget how much love God has for us, and how we can be filled with powerful joy and renewed for the days ahead.

Loving Creator, you have given us the power

the strength to love and to embrace the stranger

you restore our bodies and renew our spirits

and you send us out with loving companions.

We complain about the heavy burden of service

saying ministry is so thankless and challenging

we forget you have surrounded us with partners

with those who restore our faith and our love.

Make us joyful in the good days and the bad

deepen our trust in you and our companions

let us never forget the power of your love

and bring your joy to our hurting world. Amen.