Mtr Mary Trainor
You never know what the day may bring…
Dear friend,
I have a friend who, of her faith, says with exuberance, “We need to live as though what we believe is actually true.” No tepid life for the one who believes that God raised Jesus from the dead.
While we are not in the Easter season, Easter actions are always relevant. That is to say, the best life may be the one immersed boldly in this life of God, and one that treads lightly on this Creation. And one that rarely, if ever, succumbs to temptations of the moment, because God may be just around the corner.
Our Gospel today from Luke speaks to this point. In the metaphors through which Jesus offers his message, we consistently find encouragement to remain attentive, to not place our hopes on perishable things such as wealth and goods. That is not where life is, Jesus says, but rather, life is in relationship with him. You never know when he may astound with his presence. So, live as if the truth is true.
You never know what the day may bring…
While as chaplain at a prominent Southern California medical center, a friend of mine made the acquaintance of a patient who just happened to be an Episcopalian, as was she. They formed a special bond because of this, and the two visited as often as the chaplain’s schedule allowed.
The patient would not survive this hospitalization. As she moved from the medical floor to the palliative care unit, the chaplain followed. They both knew that the end of life was approaching, yet the woman seemed to maintain her resilience.
One morning, not long before the patient would die, her chaplain friend paid a surprise visit. The patient exclaimed, “Well, you never know what the day may bring….”
Now the chaplain took this to be a reference to the woman’s pending death. But no. The woman elaborated. “Here I was thinking only the worst thoughts, and in you walk, a blessing for sure.” Yes, blessings can surprise us, too.
A favorite author is Annie Dillard, who identifies how human it is to be disturbed by the presence of God. In Teaching a Stone to Talk, she writes, “So once in Israel love came to us incarnate, stood in the doorway between two worlds, and we were all afraid.” And we know this fear, for scripture reminds us: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” And for the shepherds, “Do not be afraid; for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people…”
It’s that fear of the power of God that needs the Easter touch. It’s that fear of the heavenly forces that created the earth and all who live in it, that needs the quenching of baptismal waters, the opening of a grave, the rising of the dead, the hope eternal in a God who unlikely will surprise us along the way in many remarkable ways.
You never know what the day may bring…
Mtr Mary