This week’s readings (and Connecting Point) continue the theme of transformation. Last week in the gospel, Jesus healed the blind man and transformed his life. This week, Jesus is once again transforming lives as he comes to the tomb of Lazarus with Mary and Martha. They are full of fear and doubt. “Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died.” Despite Jesus telling them that he would wake Lazarus, they just don’t seem to understand nor trust what this means.
It is fear and doubt that can sometimes get in the way of being all-in on Jesus’ promise. It’s easy to see this now more than ever given the current state of the world. There is more fear and doubt in the world today than I have ever seen. We fear things like: Will the virus hit me or a loved one? Will I have enough food to make it through? Will I lose my job? Will I have enough money to live? How will I keep my spirits up while I am quarantined at home? and more…
All of these fears are valid, but it is our trust in God that will help to weather the storm and pull through. Only God can transform our fears and grief into hope…but how?
When I am scrolling through my Facebook feed, now I’m seeing so many positive posts. People recording videos of themselves singing a song, reading a book, or just sharing a positive thought with their followers.
When I turn on the news, I am seeing more positive stories than ever before. Our community, country, and world have come together and united over a common bond. If this isn’t transformative, then I don’t know what is!
It is up to you and I to be that hope that everyone needs right now. So pick up the phone and call a loved one, share a positive story, sing a song, and be a source of hope. Because when you do that, you become the transformative presence of Christ.
