Thought for Easter Tuesday – God’s Family

Bible Extract: Ephesians 3, vv.14 - 21

…….I kneel in prayer to the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name, that out of the treasures of his glory he may grant you inward strength and power through his Spirit,  that through faith Christ may dwell in your hearts in love. With deep roots and firm foundations may you, in company with all God’s people, be strong to grasp what is the breadth and length and height and depth, of Christ’s love, and to know it, though it is beyond knowledge. So may you be filled with the very fullness of God.

        Now to him who is able through the power which is at work among us to do immeasurably more than all that we can ask or conceive, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus from generation to generation for evermore. Amen.

Reflection

This is a testing time for many families. We are required to live in “households”, which do not necessarily include all of our closest family members. Some find themselves sharing a home with one or more people whom they do not, actually, know very well. Many of us have relatives who are self isolating and we cannot visit them. Some are suffering the effects of the illness at home or in hospital and the pain is increased for them and their loved ones because of enforced separation. I heard a bereaved woman interviewed on the radio who said that she desperately needed a hug as she struggled with her feelings alone.

On Good Friday, we remembered that Jesus knew the pain of separation from his earthly family, as he saw his mother watching his torment on the cross, from his friends, one of whom betrayed him while the rest ran away, and from his heavenly Father to whom he cried, “Why have you deserted me?” Yet on the first Easter day, God raised him from the dead, restoring him to his friends, his disciples and his mother. Because Jesus went through these things on our behalf, he is able to be with us as we undergo the trials of the pandemic. He has united us with God so we are part of God’s family in the household of faith. His love for us is stronger than anything else, even death itself.

Prayers

Almighty Father, look with mercy on this your family for which our Lord Jesus Christ was content to be betrayed and given up into the hands of wicked men and to suffer death upon the cross;

who is alive and glorified with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Almighty God, we thank you for our fellowship in the household of faith with all those who have been baptized in your name. Keep us faithful to our baptism, and so make us ready for that day when the whole creation shall be made perfect in your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.   

Music:  Hymn Now the green blade riseth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVduV0ustWw