The Seventh Sunday of Easter: From FEAR to LIFE

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

“Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” ”

— Matt. 14:28-33

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

Throughout the FEAR NOT devotional series, we have considered a variety of fears that we are facing in the COVID-19 pandemic. Each fear that we encountered brings challenges and tests our faith. We have struggled through a great deal already, and it is far from over. The virus lingers like an unwelcome guest that has long overstayed its welcome. It is a painful time, filled with all sorts of emotion.

In this final week, we turn to the greatest of all fears - death itself. From the smallest creature on this planet to the largest, we all must deal with the same uncomfortable reality - death comes to all.

It is a hard truth that we are skilled at avoiding or denying. We pretend that we are immortal and hide behind our health, age, strength, and smarts. We overlook our vulnerability and frailty - until, of course, we are unable to keep up the charade.

Woody Allen once said, "It's not that I'm afraid to die; I just don't want to be there when it happens."

It is particularly challenging to ignore death during a pandemic. Daily death counts on the news remind us of the lethal nature of the virus that moves over our planet.

Depending on where we live, the experience with Covid-19 deaths has varied in intensity. For example, my brother and his family know people who have died. They live near New York City, where the death toll has been in the hundreds per day. Still, we are not without Covid-19 deaths in Minnesota. Sadly, I had to perform a virtual memorial service recently. It hit close to home; the man was my age.

Of course, many people are recovering from the infection. Some have experienced symptoms no more than a bad cold. It seems so random and unpredictable. There are patterns, to be sure. Those who have preexisting health conditions and are older seem more vulnerable. But not everyone fits the typical description- my brother's coworker was thirty-eight and had a young family.

What is a person of faith to do in the frightening face of death?

Each week, this devotion offered a gospel counterpoint to each of the fears that we identified. Our God, who is full of steadfast love, refuses to leave us alone in our fears. The heart of the Easter message is to 'Fear Not.' At the empty tomb, God invites disciples to lives filled with resurrection and hope.

Fear not! The Risen Christ leads us through the valley of the shadow of death. Just as we don't go through life alone, neither do we face death alone. God goes with us and beyond. In the sure and certain hope of life everlasting, we trust that death is not going to have the last word.

We trust in God's promise and presence as we muster every fiber of courage within our trembling spirits. Fear not! It becomes a mantra and a self-fulfilling prophecy. Fear not! Although we speak these words with varying levels of conviction, they taunt death's dominion over us.

The Creator of Life is also the bringer of resurrection. Love lingers even after we breathe our last breath. As St. Paul wrote, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's (Romans 14:8).

And so, we keep going until that day when we have run our race, and the fears and worries of this life are no longer. At that moment, we will rest in the comfort of God's eternal care. After all, the gospel counterpoint to death is life.

STEP THREE: PRAY

Eternal God, give me courage that I may live this day to the fullest. Let me so trust in your everlasting care that even in the face of death I might fear not! Amen.

Today’s devotion is by Pastor Walt Lichtenberger.