Song “Holy Spirit living breath of God”
https://youtu.be/8nbMfLQd2P4
Christ has no body on earth but ours
No hands but ours, no feet but ours.
Ours are the eyes through which he looks out on the world
Ours are the hands which show kindness
Ours are the feet that carry us to help one another
So help us to harvest Love.
Song “Will you come and follow me”
https://youtu.be/o469PRLdbHU
Loving God we thank you for the breath in our bodies
For a new day and a new week
Forgive us when we mess up and it goes badly wrong
Help us to listen to one another and to you
To be a healing presence
And to show love
So that become the people of God
In Jesus Name Amen
We say the Lords prayer in our own language
Reflection on John 14v1-14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of all our hearts be acceptable, to You, our Rock and our Redeemer.
If like me, you have attended numerous Caribbean funerals, the bible reading from John chapter 14 is easily recognisable. This passage is entitled-the way, the truth and the Life’. I was once asked by a friend to visit his uncle, in hospital who nearing the end of his life. The first reading that came to mind was John chapter 14 which I read then prayed.
When I was much younger, I always thought how wonderful; God has many mansions in heaven and I can have a choice of which one I will reside in!
Jesus was with His disciples; preparing them for a future where He will not be physically present. Peter was previously told that he was going to deny Christ and he must have been still reeling from the shock of that statement. When Jesus moved on to this teaching the disciples must have been concerned. But compassionate Jesus says ‘let not your heart be troubled; believe in God and believe in me also’ the heart is the main fortress and must be protected to prevent it being wounded. Its job is vital to keep the body functioning. Jesus assures His disciples (He assures us) that He is going to prepare a place for us. It must have been still a lot for the disciples to comprehend. So much so, that Thomas made the statement/question ‘Lord we do not know where You are going and how can we know the way? And Jesus gives those awe inspiring affirming words ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
Stones are used to build, to build houses. Together stones are powerful. One stone has to be head cornerstone. Jesus is that Head Cornerstone that was despised and rejected wounded for our transgressions.
Let us with this Pentecost, rise up as new born babes and desire the pure milk of the word of God. In these unprecedented times, I am reminded of Isaiah 43:18-19(a) ‘Do not cling to the things of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new I am going to do. It is happening already-you can see it now.’ We are witnessing a different way of worshipping. We are caring, tolerant and loving towards one another.
In August and September of 1992 we were in Jamaica to attend our mother’s funeral. On the eve of going to the funeral parlour to see and dress my mother’s body; I laid in bed in the darkness of the night; sleep would not come. All manner of thought ravished my mind. I was so distressed. I was even annoyed as my husband slept beside me. How could he sleep? Hours past and the torment continued. I heard a voice said ‘let not your heart be troubled’ I shot up and looked around the darkened room to see where this voice came from. My heart thumping as if it were going to burst through my chest cavity! As I waited for the beats of my heart to normalise; I recited from Psalm 30: tears my flow in the night but joy comes in the morning.
So, we are re-building God’s spiritual home- Let not our hearts be troubled. Let us continue to believe in God and also in Jesus. The only way to get to the Father’s House is through Jesus. Amen.
This is the day God has made
We will rejoice and be glad in it
We will not offer to God
Offerings that cost us nothing
We will seek peace and pursue it. Amen
© Pat Nimmo and Claudette Binns
