Vespers Lectionary
John 14:1-14
Let’s just stay here.
Why don’t we just live here?
I’ve said this to my spouse during many of our travels. Of course, I’ve suggested this in Bora Bora while on honeymoon. But, I have also imagined our relocated lives while on a bumpy car ride swatting away a thousand bugs across Kigali’s thousand hills.
The chances we have to break away from the routine tasks of our days offer us glimpses of rest, in another world, far from the ordinary demands of life. Whether it is sitting by a running brook in Yosemite or hiding away in a little café in the city, to just stay a little longer away may be a natural desire for all of us.
When troubles rise, when we are entangled in circumstances beyond our control, when heartache presses its weight on hope, we just want to get away from it all. We want to at least know there is relief ahead.
We sojourn through this little while of life looking for the next possible place where a little more peace might be found. We will each face our own piercing pains that crumble our strength to live this earthly life. Whether what we need for this moment is just a respite from the fatigue of our days or a mighty healing hope in the eternal place where we will meet Christ and meet one another again—anew—face to face, the Word in today's lectionary is for all of us, weary ones needing relief.
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.
If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you will be also.
John 14:1-3
Like coming home to a splendid table prepared just for us, Christ prepares a place for each of us and all of us together. We will find rest from our journeys. We will not look for any other place.
Until then, we decide with faith to believe in God and believe also in the promises of Christ.
O wand'rer come
On Christ believe
Christ's grace by faith receive
Awake, arise and hear Christ's call
The feast is spread for all
O Love Divine, Fanny J. Crosby
The Dinner Table, Henri Matisse
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