This week as I was thinking about healing and God’s healing presence in our lives,  I remembered a story I heard this summer. I have been gathering weekly with a small group of St Michael’s folks for a series called Animate Faith, which includes videos by nationally known teachers and writers. Shane Hipps shared this story:

The other day I  came across this short post by author and blogger  Seth Godin,             Fast, easy, guaranteed.
            Pick none.             That’s the work worth doing.
I laughed at myself a bit, because at the time I was procrastinating –             checking my email again to put off the work of writing a sermon. I was reminded that there is a reason preparing to preach is not fast, easy, or guaranteed. And it is work worth doing.

Chances are good that sometime in your life you have written – or received –             an acrostic poem. Do you remember those? You start with the letters of someone’s name, and then write the poem             by writing something good about the person for each letter of their name. It’s a classic for mother’s day in preschools and kindergartens.

Today’s gospel lesson picks up right in the middle of a story. Jesus is sending out his disciples to continue his mission. They are to share the good news that the kingdom of God has come near to them,             to heal the sick, and to cast out demons. Jesus has been giving them instructions, such as, take no bag on your journey,             and receive no payment. He says, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Not a very comforting image. Not a great recruiting strategy.

Cleopas and his friend are on a journey. They are walking through the afternoon, to a place called Emmaus. They trudge along, heads down, dejected and lost. A stranger joins them on the road. “What are you talking about?” he asks.

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!             The Lord is Risen indeed! Alleluia! How many of you are back to eating chocolate today –             did anyone get into the kids’ Easter baskets already this morning for that first taste of chocolate in forty days? Or back to drinking coffee? What else are you going back to this morning?

I’ve been singing those words ever since Wednesday. Those words from the prophet Joel are often read on Ash Wednesday,      and in the church I grew up in we sang this refrain every Sunday throughout Lent. For me, these words hold within them the whole purpose of Ash Wednesday and Lent: God’s invitation to turn away from all that distracts and misleads and tempts us,             and return our attention to God’s steadfast love and grace.

Do not be afraid These words echo throughout the Scriptures, appearing time and again in the stories of the lives of God’s people We hear these words when someone is facing a particular challenge or change,             like Abraham waiting decades for a son in an unknown land,             or Joshua taking on leadership of God’s people after Moses dies. Both Isaiah and Jeremiah, struggling with the very difficult task of bringing God’s call to repentance and faithfulness to the people of Israel, are told,             “Do not be afraid, because I am with you.” And they in turn bring that message to the people – Do not be afraid – times are hard, but God has not forsaken us.

A few weeks ago I went to Minnesota for a conference at Luther seminary             where I attended many years ago. One of the speakers was Paul Hoffman,             pastor for 15+ years at Phinney Ridge Lutheran church in Seattle. In one of his presentations, Paul told a simple story of church life. Some years ago, as Advent approached, the children’s ministry leaders discovered             that the Christmas pageant costumes were missing.

Last February about 30 youth from around the DRG gathered in Ruidoso     for what we call Snow Slam. We went snow tubing, had a dance with karaoke,     ate and played games and watched movies together. We also shared worship and prayer, and did skits portraying parables of Jesus. On the way home, Father Brian Winter was driving a van with about 12 young people. On the sidewalk next to the road, they saw a man in obvious distress –     lying on the sidewalk, shaking.