Pages

9.11.16

"Child, get up!" (song)

From last night's service of prayer for healing, a reflection of Luke 8:49-56


Sometimes it seems the most challenging time of the day is the morning, when we must get out of bed although we would rather get more sleep. As important as sleep is, eventually we must get up and live our lives, doing what we are here to do.

The first Christians saw sleep as a metaphor for death. As the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Thessalonika, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep” (4:13-14).

In tonight’s scripture reading, Jesus raises a girl from sleep which, to most people, seemed like death. I ask us to think about how we are like the young girl.

How have we as individuals, communities, societies, the church, fallen into a sleep which looks like death?

What parts of us need reviving, need fresh life?

How might we need to wake up to do the work we are called to do?

May we, like the young girl, hear Jesus’ call to us: “Child, get up!”

And may we rise to the glory of God.


Chant: "Wake up, O sleeper"
 

No comments: