By Beth Ferguson, Lay Leader and Member to the Annual Conference.
As we celebrate this season of Eastertide, Psalm 98 is a joyful song of praise. We celebrate Christ’s life and all the wonderful things he did during his walk on the earth- the many miracles of healing and casting out demons, and raising people from the dead. We celebrate Jesus death and resurrection, his victory over death. It is a time for celebration and remembering all God’s wonderful works. God has remembered the suffering of God’s people and sent Jesus for their salvation. Jesus came to bring salvation to all the earth.
We rejoice in singing. We rejoice with musical instruments of all kinds. All the earth is celebrating even the seas and mountains and rivers. We remember that on Palm Sunday, Jesus told the authorities that “if the people were silent, the stones themselves would shout”. (Luke 19:40)
God seeks to bring justice to all the earth. Jesus came to bring justice to all the earth. God continues to seek justice for everyone, yet we are still all in our isolation at home. We still see injustice, as many among us suffer without adequate healthcare. People are losing jobs and health insurance. We are not all suffering equally during this pandemic. African Americans are dying at a much higher rate than Caucasians. Undocumented immigrants are losing their jobs and are not eligible for unemployment payments.
Yet the Psalm reminds us that God is good, and we can rejoice in all the blessings we have received. We can work for justice in this situation. We can join in the celebration of the resurrection and the promise of salvation. We can look for a time when all the earth celebrates the triumphant return of the Messiah when justice truly rules all the earth.
A Prayer from the Extended Cabinet
By Erin M. Cline, Family and Community Ministries at Baylor University (offered by William V. Burnside II, Conference Treasurer/Director of Administrative Services)
O God of the Last Supper
God of the Cross
And God of the Empty Tomb
We come before you now and we pause.
We inhale the scent of snow white Easter lilies.
We see the rain as it falls in veils and sheets of April showers.
And we listen.
Holy Week has passed.
But how we long to live by the marvelous story we have heard.
Let us remain ever beside you at the table of the Last Supper.
Show us who is hungry.
And give us the courage to offer them bread from your table.
Show us who is thirsty.
And give us the strength to lift up the cup of your love.
Most of all, show us how to linger at the table, serving others—
Doing ALL that we do
In remembrance of You,
And the way You were when You walked this earth.
We lift these simple, limited words
Up to you, O God.
Amen