It's fitting that the liturgical calendar saves "Ordinary time" for June. Right now, the world feels to be quite extraordinary. Eastertide (or Paschaltide) is a time for saints to celebrate and remember the power of the Resurrection. That power is just as real as ever, even if we celebrated last week from the lockdown of our own homes.
Jesus appeared to so many people after death and Resurrection, but we're only appearing to one another through video chats or drive-by's. This is time to celebrate Christ's incarnational return. Jesus prompted the doubting disciple to push fingers through nail wounds, proof of tangible humanity re-entering the physical world. A virtual faith is wholly inadequate to honor an incarnate Savior.
From the lawful abiding of our own home, we reached out to our physical neighborhood first. We're still learning names and stories of the physical, incarnate neighbors that God placed together in our corner of Earth. We offer help, and swallow our pride to accept help, too. We pray privately and praise God publicly. We keep our germs to ourselves while sharing our faith in person and through the Internet. We call to check in with those we know live alone, those we know are out of work, those we know are not connected to any arm of the Church community. This is how we're trying to share the incarnational nature of Christ's love, compassion and commission.
"Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age."-Matthew 28:16-20
The elementary kids at our in-person church were memorizing this verse in February. It rings out like an emergency alert in my mind. The Gospel is not cancelled. The Mission is not cancelled. The Church is not cancelled. We are called to worship an incarnate, Resurrected Savior with people.
Maybe the most you can do is sit in a lawn chair. Maybe the most you can do is log in to a device. But GO. But MAKE disciples. But BAPTIZE. But TEACH what Jesus commanded, and DO it, too. Observe authorities, sure, it's biblical. But, please, don't let that stop you from LOVING well.
Sunday, April 19, 2020
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Ephesians 5
Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
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