Mtr Mary Trainor

Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood…*

Dear friend,

Astonished. Jesus’ disciples are astonished that he speaks with a woman, a Samaritan at that.

While the word astonished is not used, later in today’s Gospel from John nonetheless we find them also perplexed as to why he is not hungry despite not having eaten a meal.

Jesus often astonishes. Friends, like our siblings of old, we stand ready to be astonished at the wonder-working power of God in Christ.

***

Sometimes I find it difficult to live into what I believe to be true, what I claim is my faith. These COVID months have taken a toll beyond the many deaths they brought. Everyone I speak with about this acknowledges something akin to despair, to being more easily angered, resistant to making peace with a new normal that requires chronic adjustments to life. We want our old lives back. At least I do.

Would you be free from your passion and pride
There's power in the blood, power in the blood

So I have turned more seriously to my old friend “prayer,” which is still available despite COVID. And I’ve learned not to pray for specific outcomes in a worldly affairs (of course I still throw them in.) My deeper prayers these days are for peace and strength to face the bad things, a spirit of hopefulness, and energy to simply keep moving forward. In faith.

At the end of it all, whatever transient perils come my way, what endures is my most astonishing God.

There is power, power, wonder-working power
in the precious blood of the Lamb

Mtr Mary

*Excerpts from There is Power in the Blood, lyrics by Lewis E Jones. This hymn is used most often in evangelical churches. it frames the power of God differently from our own tradition, yet nonetheless captures a sentiment we share each time we present ourselves to receive the Body and Blood of Christ.