Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. John 14:27

In the tradition of faith, the heart is the place where all decisions arise. A troubled or fearful heart means that decisions will arise out of worry and fear—and that can never lead to a good result. And with all the uneasiness in the world’s sense of peace, one can succumb to this unfaith.

But Jesus, even in his dying moments, did not want any of us to live or be as a people of fear but a people of promise. His death on the cross is the new root of putting our fears and our troubles to death, and his resurrection is the victory of life for all our future.

We can be overcome in our worries and fears as we face our days ahead. Our hearts may not want to make any decisions that only imperil us further or lead us to retreat into a shell. But our Lord has healed us by his promise and saving grace. Trusting in Jesus, death is not the finality

of life. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer said when he faced the gallows, “This is the end. But for me, it is the beginning of life.”

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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

I will not leave you orphaned. John 14:18

As Jesus was sharing this farewell conversation with his disciples, he knew that his hour was near. The time of trial and death was impending. And he was aware that with his passing, the disciples themselves would feel as orphans, as people who were without his presence in their lives. But Jesus tells them that that is not to be the case. As the Gospel of Matthew concludes, the risen Jesus proclaims, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (28:20).

Sometimes when a dear parent dies, or a mentor or friend we have known and trusted and leaned upon for years, there is an emptiness that comes upon us. We experience this scar of being left behind, like orphans. But the promise of Jesus is that we are never left behind in God’s enduring grace. We entrust our loved ones into the loving arms of our Lord, and we trust that his presence is always with us even as he is always with the saints who have gone before us.

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If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. John 14:14

Jesus’ very presence is like the presence of his Father in heaven. It is the Father who sent Jesus to be with us, to teach us, to heal us and to give his life for us so that we may all be brought home as children of our Father in heaven. So now he encourages us to pray to our Father as God’s own children, trusting that because it is Jesus who has invited us home, we are, in fact, welcomed in the Father’s presence and our requests are heard.

Prayer helps us in the healing of all our scars. When children are hurt or injured and come to their parents for help, the parent is there to help. God knows how many bandages I have placed on the knees and elbows of my children and grandchildren, with a kiss and a hug. We trust the Father to hear us, even as the Father hears the prayers of his Son on our behalf. Father in heaven,

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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. Luke 24:31

The disciples who were making their way home to Emmaus provided hospitality to a Stranger who had accompanied them along the way. But as they sat at the table, the Stranger became the host, breaking bread and blessing it; and as he did, their eyes were opened. They were opened for

the first time on this long, hard journey. Before this, they did not know him, and could only speak of their doubts and disbeliefs, frustrations and despair. But now they knew Him! This Stranger was no stranger at all. It was their Lord!

Sometimes, maybe often, we cannot find the word of grace we are searching for. We may even find that our homes are empty because the powerful word we need to hear has not touched our ears or burned in our hearts. But Jesus makes his home with us. He did all along. He feeds us with love. And as he hosts us with this saving grace, we find all that had been closed in our lives (like tombs) lead to new openings for us and, through us, for the world. Wouldn’t we call this an occasion for great, resurrection-filled laughter?!

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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Luke 23:34

When Jesus was crucified, the first word he speaks to the people who want him dead is a word of forgiveness. He speaks it because they do not know that they are killing their own Messiah. He speaks it even before his enemies and accusers begin to speak, scoff and mock him. The Church wrestled deeply with this word. Some wanted the passage omitted altogether, thinking perhaps that this was not the time for forgiveness, or perhaps so as not to encourage anything that would put an unwelcome divide between him and his enemies. But the word of forgiveness was often on Jesus’ lips, and for all people—including outcasts and, yes, enemies.

The first step in healing is forgiveness. Desmond Tutu once said, “Without forgiveness, there is no future.” Our Lord authorized us to pray for our forgiveness and connected it with forgiving those who sinned against us. When we hold onto grudges and evils that have transpired against us, we only harbor resentment that helps no one, and certainly provides no solace. But forgiveness heals. It heals us, it heals our families, and it heals all others—even our enemies. We were all enemies

of God until Jesus came speaking a word of forgiveness—and giving his life for us all.

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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

Neither do I condemn you. John 8:11

The woman to whom Jesus speaks these words is not a woman without a sinful past. Those who would condemn such acts were ready to pass judgment, though they also sought to see if Jesus would defend her. “Let those without sin cast the first stone,” Jesus said (John 8:7). He is the

hope of Israel and the fountain of living water who comes for us all in our trespasses. As he writes in the sand, one by one the accusers leave the scene. No judgment is given, save one: “Neither do I condemn you.”

We have many sins that we know to be true. All of us deserve the judgment of death and condemnation, for we are all people who have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But Jesus owns us in the midst of our condemnation. He stands with us as we face our time of

trial. He is the Advocate who pleads for us, even with the scars on his hands and side on the cross. Life is his judgment for us, and life is the final verdict. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see. John 9:25

A man who was born blind would gain more sight than those around him. His accusers would shun him; his own parents would cower in fear and not defend him; but his sights were set on Jesus, who would not desert him. This is his confession, “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25). In spite of the stigma of his blindness, he trusts that Jesus is watching out for him.

Even when we have eyes to see, we can be quite blind. We can allow people, like this man born blind, to be shunned and disowned as we cower in fear. We do not see the evils that stir within us, nor the sufferings of many peoples, and are blind to our own injustice and sin. But Jesus takes the poor and the oppressed under his wings, and he gives sight to the blind. When Jesus graciously opens our eyes, we can own up to our blindness and then truly see.

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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,