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The Rev. Dr. Nina George-Hacker, Rector |
If God owned a business, it would be called "Resurrection, Inc.," because our Heavenly Father is in the business of bringing life out of death, turning sorrow into joy, and converting despair into hope.
Should we ever doubt that God has both the mighty power and the compassionate heart to accomplish such transformations, we have only to look at the Passion and Cross of Jesus Christ. Our Lord was unjustly persecuted, condemned, tortured, and cruelly put to death. In His human nature, with His physical strength, Jesus could do nothing to resist. For, in John 6:63, Jesus teaches, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh accomplishes nothing."
In other words, our human strength and efforts will not go far without the help of the Holy Spirit. Even Christ would not be risen from the dead without God's divine intervention. As St. Paul writes in Romans 6:4, Christ was raised from the dead "by the glorious power of the Father."
Some of you may be experiencing a less than a joyful spring, whether because you are suffering pain or illness, or still recovering from the flooding and losses of 2011. You may find it hard to feel excited about Easter. But remember that through your baptism, "You have been raised to life with Christ." That means, regardless of your circumstances, you do have new life in Christ.
Because of this, St. Paul counsels, "set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne at the right side of God. Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth. For you have died, and ... your real life is Christ" (Colossians 3:1-3).
It's common knowledge how fake TV "reality shows" are ... but the reality of life in Christ is genuine. That means God's Holy Spirit lives within you, so the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is able to transform your darkest night into the brightest morning. But all Christians need to sustain our spiritual lives, just as we need food to strengthen our mortal bodies. We feed our spirits on the Word of God, the Holy Eucharist, good works, and sharing in Christian fellowship with one another.
If you haven't been to church in awhile, Holy Week, Easter, and Eastertide are great opportunities to "refill" your "spiritual tank," and to encounter God's gracious love for you. I pray that the joy of Christ's Resurrection will be yours this Easter, and in the weeks to come.
Yours in Christ's love and service,
Mother Nina +
| Date |
Title |
| |
|
| February 22, 2012 |
Ash Wednesday - From Dust ... to Dust ... to Glory! |
| February 12, 2012 |
Trading Places |
| February 5, 2012 |
Lost and Found |
| January 22, 2012 |
Follow Me! |
| January 15, 2012 |
Come and See! |
| January 8, 2012 |
New Year -- New Life! |
| January 6, 2012 |
Epiphany - In Humility and Awe! |
| January 1, 2012 |
The Strong Name of Jesus |
| October 23, 2011 |
Love--for God and Neighbor--is the Greatest Commandment |
| October 16, 2011 |
Give to God What is God's--Ourselves |
| October 9, 2011 |
Rejoice and Be Content! |
| October 2, 2011 |
Jesus, the Savior of the WORLD |
| September 25 2011 |
God's Mercy Changes Us--for Good |
| September 11, 2011 |
Victory in Jesus! (Remembrance Service) |
Last Updated: 4/4/2012
Paul Eisenhaur, webmaster@stchristopherscobleskill.com
