The Fifth Sunday of Easter: From FEAR to BELOVED

STEP ONE: BREATHE

Take a deep, cleansing breath. Allow the air to fill your lungs and expand your body. Exhale and empty yourself into the room. Repeat three times - once for the one who Created you, once for the Incarnate One who walks beside you, and once for the Spirit whose life fills your being.

STEP TWO: DWELL IN WORD

“Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.””

— Luke 5:1-11

“FEAR NOT” - Introduction to this week’s Focus

“Who am I?”

You may have asked yourself that question in the past few weeks, as the effects of the pandemic continue and deepen, and as we feel the former certainties of life slip away. The economy is in shambles, our own financial futures are in question, community is failing, relationships are frayed, and nobody seems in control.

Many of us are facing a true crisis of identity, as many of the things we have relied on to define us - job, status, friendships, social class, community, even family - have been shaken to the core.

So who are we - who am I - in the face of it all?

Perhaps we’re asking the wrong question. Perhaps we should ask:

“Whose am I?”

As people of faith, we need to be reminded that we are children of God, claimed by the Holy Spirit and marked by the Cross of Christ in the waters of baptism, freed from the fears of the present to joyfully be God’s hands and feet, called and gifted to love our God by loving and serving our neighbor in the midst of their own fears and uncertainties.

Who am I, you ask?

You are God’s beloved. Be not afraid.

STEP THREE: PRAY

Source of life, out of love you create all beings. Let me never forget that I am your beloved child. As such, make me remember to love others each day of my life. Through Jesus, amen.

Today’s devotion is by Pastor Scott Simmons