Goodbyes are hard. The remorseless certainty of the departing train, the miles and years that will separate someone from the person they love, endless portrayals on film and TV – they remind us that goodbyes are hard. And now the threat of contagion adds to the enforced separations of life.
Jesus tries to reassure his disciples. The reasons he gives can’t have made much sense at the time. Maybe the only reason they found their way into John’s (the strangest) gospel is that the writer, some time afterwards, thought they’d make more sense to a post-resurrection generation of Christians. It doesn’t all make sense to me, yet I am strangely reassured by these words. The basic metaphor is domestic, hospitable. The God of all creation is making the beds, ready to welcome us human beings. “Preparing a place” is the everyday currency of holy love.
These are nervous times. Read the gospel and see if it helps…
A quick walk this morning to our local Tesco, which at half past six was free of deliveries and almost free of customers – a good time to go. Most of the list was ticked off. Because shopping, I wore the face mask that Janet kindly made. It’s so neat, I fear that some people might think it was bought in competition with front line care, health, transport workers. Maybe I need one as flowery as a welder’s hat – or maybe not. It’s been another nice day so far.
God of love, when we are fearful, on edge,
give us peace.
And in our self-absorption, may we not forget
people in need,
those whose lives have been turned upside-down
by the virus,
those who have given everything
to care for and heal others.
We pray also for those whose livelihoods
and food source
have been threatened by locusts in East Africa.
We pray for your peace,
for your justice in the world
and in our hearts.