Father Snort

Jesus' disciples are fearful and doubting, even after his resurrection. Jesus says to them "peace be with you." As people of the resurrection, peace is our way as well. We live lives of forgiveness and peace, helping each other through our fears and doubts, allowing for them with grace and love.

We often wonder about how and why exactly Jesus' death and resurrection is salvific for us. We wonder what then we're to do about it. Sometimes, however, we can simply accept it, enjoy it, and do nothing beyond resting in God.

At the Last Supper, Jesus told his disciples to love one another. Amidst their worry about what would happen to him and what would become of them, Jesus' disciples are simply told to love one another - all shall be well.

Jesus speaks of those who love darkness more than light. We all have some darkness in us, and part of us likes the darkness. Being a Christian does not eradicate the darkness in us. Rather, "the cure has begun, and we have relapses."

Jesus said "Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me." Some folks then misread Paul's letter to the Romans, believing that what we do matters very little. Jesus seems to disagree with that assesment.

The cure has begun, and we have relapses. John 3:16 is a favorite verse for many Christian in showing the love God has for us. We must also recognize there is still darkness within us and be ok with that. God is.

Drawing near to God was primary in Jesus' life and teaching. When he broke the rules, it was because keeping them would take him farther from God. Jesus took time, sabbath time, to be with God, and teaches us to do the same.

Paul was all things to all people. Like a student who traverses cliques in school, Paul was not false or fake with people. He was all to all out of love for God and love for people.

We can't know the truth of God. We believe because we have found the love, awe, and respect of God to be the beginning of wisdom. We believe because we've found the story of God's love and redepmtion of the world to be the most beautiful, compelling story we've heard.

We're told not to fear, but to hold God with respect (maybe a little fear) if it helps us live well.

We're taught to forgive others. Additionally, those who are hurt are taught not just to forgive, but to seek reconciliation with those who did the hurting.

In God's continual efforts to teach us to live well, God seems like a perennial optimist, never giving up on us.

We're all connected in each others' lives. God allows the bad within us to grow together with the good - otherwise we'd all be harmed if God destroyed all the bad at once.

Our expectations of God often go unmet. At the same time, prophecy is also often fulfilled, albeit in a different way that we might have expected.

The world is not what we wish it was, nor what we wish we had made it to be. There is hope. God has not given up on the world, nor on us. When we turn away, we can always get back on the right path with God.

On the Road to Emmaus, two of Jesus' disciples encountered the risen Jesus. Did Jesus also encounter himself in them? How do we encounter the risen Jesus in others still today?

Tradegy is all around us. Our faith leads us to respond in love, helping where we can, via prayer and action, without despair. God is with us in tradegy (and joy).

In the Transfiguration, there is a dual revelation of Jesus and God and as a human example of how to live. His words, his life, his death, and his resurrection all help us create tabernacles in our hearts for God to dwell.

There is enough anxiety in the world without chastising ourselves and enough of a rat race without adding more to our plates. Take some time this Lent to rest in God.

Be whole by having a heart of love, peace, and faith. Pray for those whom you love and for your enemies, and God will partner with you to make you whole.