Leaning into Luke

 

⁴⁰ As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them. ⁴¹ Demons also came out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Messiah. ⁴² At daybreak he departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowds were looking for him; and when they reached him, they wanted to prevent him from leaving them. ⁴³ But he said to them, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.” ⁴⁴ So he continued proclaiming the message in the synagogues of Judea.  Luke 4:41-44

We wind down and wrap up this week where we began – with a pause.  With Jesus going to a deserted place.  Jesus gets a few moments for rest and renewal before the crowd catches up to him.  He doesn’t get a full vacation.  He doesn’t get the full spa treatment and to sit on the beach with a beverage in his hand.  He gets a few moments.

He gets a pause.

Today also marks the winding down and wrapping up of the first month of 2021 – which has felt a lot like 2020.  I think today might be the last day we can return this year in exchange for another, check the back of your receipt for the full return policy, exclusions will apply. 

We need a pause.  Hear this prayer for you:

To be open to the Spirit on this road we are making.

To sense God’s grace guiding, grounding, stirring, shaking.

To let the sacred attend, heal our souls which are aching.

To let God get a word in edgewise on the path we are taking.

Pause in the less-than-perfectness of this moment, let the holy awaken us to a movement beyond what we can comprehend or control. 

I pray today you might have moments of healing and hope; of God’s grace guiding you every step of the way.  And may God’s love be with you now more than ever.  Amen.