Back in the late 1800s, Julia Gilbert, a single woman crippled by a childhood disease, challenged a common communion practice. In those days, in what was then a very patriarchal church, the German Baptist Brethren would only allow men to break bread with each other while insisting sisters have the bread broken for them by an elder. Time and again she tried to get her church to appeal to the annual denominational meeting. But for 50 years she was ignored. Finally, in 1910, she spoke on the floor of their annual meeting and explained why she wanted the practice changed. She said: “We want to be in touch with Jesus.” Of course, Julia won the day.

We’ve come a long way in our culture and in our churches. Most of us have come to realize that all of us, men and women, young and old, people of different backgrounds and races all have this in common: we have a deep desire to be in touch with the Holy. We long for the same healing, the same grace.

Nearly 2000 years ago, in his letter to the church in Galatia, the apostle Paul made this claim: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”

Today, where there are still divisions, where there is still inequality, let us pray for God’s healing. And, may our prayers become our actions, as we each do our part to work towards that wholeness.

Let us pray: All-Loving, Merciful God we join countless women and men from across this globe over the millennia who have sought your peace, your presence. We long for the day when you will heal all brokenness; all broken relationships, all broken promises, all broken people. We surrender ourselves to your grace again this day – wash over us with your love, mercy, and hope. Now use us, we humbly ask, to be instruments of your reconciliation; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Professor and theologian Shirley Guthrie once wrote: What’s heaven like? Of course, no one really knows. The biblical writers didn’t spend much time on it. They didn’t worry about the future because they understood their own and the world’s future to be in the hands of God…. They focused (more) on living in the present in light of our future hope, knowing that what is going to happen to us, our loved ones and the world will be better than the very best we can imagine in our wildest dreams.”

We still may wonder, what’s that’s like though? Will we see our loved ones? Will we have opportunities to make up for past wrongs?

Jesus tells a parable of a rich man dying and going to Hades and Lazarus dying and going to heaven. In the parable, it seems pretty clear that Lazarus knows and recognizes Abraham. We do get the sense, at least from that passage, that we will know others and that they will know us.

In 1Corinthians chapter 15, Paul says we will have perfect spiritual bodies, and we will bear the image of the Man of Heaven – that is Jesus…

I think about being in the presence of the unconditional love of Christ, and somehow each one of us bearing his image. I have to imagine that the past wrongs and hurts each of us has suffered, and inflicted, will long be forgotten, that the separation and loneliness we have felt in this lifetime will be healed, and that longing in each of us for connection and love will ultimately be fulfilled – overcome by the mercy, forgiveness, and grace we know in Jesus.

In an Easter sermon, my friend Herb Meza once reflected on life after death. He wrote:

“I believe that one day every bruise, every cancer cell, every blind eye, every limp and every lump will be set right. One day every embarrassment and every rejection and every hurt we have suffered will give way to glory. I do not know how God will deal with all the shabbiness, failures, and betrayal. It surely must hurt God, but I know God is loving and forgiving. One day, every moment of hoping against hope will be rewarded.”

None of us knows for sure what heaven will be like. But we do know it is promised. We do get glimpses of heaven on earth here and now, a vision to work toward. And we can trust that God is as good as Jesus said: Loving, generous, forgiving, full of mercy and grace… And we can trust that one day we will be with him – and experience that eternal weight of glory – beyond all measure.

Let us pray: We thank, O God, you for your presence among us, and for glimpses of heaven even here and now. Grant us peace about the future, and tune our hearts to your heart. By the way that we live, by the way that we speak, by the way that we love and give, may we join your Kingdom work – your heaven work; here on earth. We ask in Jesus’s name. Amen.

A woman and her grandmother were sitting on their porch discussing a member of the family. “He’s just no good,” the young woman said. “He’s completely untrustworthy, not to mention lazy.” “Yes, he’s bad,” said the grandmother as she rocked back and forth in her rocker, “but Jesus loves him.”

“I’m not so sure of that,” the younger woman persisted. “Oh, yes,” assured the elderly lady. “Jesus loves him.” She rocked and thought for a few more minutes and then added, “Of course, Jesus doesn’t know him like we do.”

Of course, Jesus would know him better than anybody – and love him anyway. In the same way that Jesus knows you better than anyone – and loves you anyway. This is called grace. And understanding that grace is essential to understanding God.

Throughout the scriptures, we are reminded that at the foot of the cross, we all stand on equal ground. God shows no partiality: rich/poor, black/white, Mexican, Asian, American… The truth is we all stand in need of God’s grace. And there is not one of us who is not seen in God’s eyes as a beloved child.

This is at the very heart of our faith. And yet, there is a human tendency to make judgments. Who’s in, who’s out. Who’s acceptable… who’s worthy…who’s worthy of our company, of our compassion, of our love, of our help…

The Irish poet and peacemaker, Padraig O Tunama brings this home for me. He said, “Yeah. I do love praying. Like ‘prier’ from French, ‘to ask.’ What I love about that word is it doesn’t require belief. It just requires recognition of need. And I think the recognition of need is something that brings us to a deep, common language about what it means to be human. And if you’re not in the situation where you know need, well, then you’re lucky. But you will be.”

We all know what it is like to be in need, in need of healing, in need of forgiveness, in need of love. Every one of us…

It is in our shared humanity, and in our common recognition of our need, that we begin to understand God’s grace.

Let us pray, “Holy God, we acknowledge that it is sometimes hard to love people who are different than us. But we trust that your love is extended to all. We thank you for this grace and ask you simply to soften hearts that all may accept and respond to this love. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today’s message was written by Rev. Dr. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

Ingratitude is a serious shortcoming. I agree with Martin Luther that “unthankfulness is
theft.” In his Inferno, Dante placed in the center of his hell not those guilty of fleshy
sins, but morose, gloomy, ungrateful men and women. Shakespeare wrote in “As You
Like It,”

“Blow, blow, thou winter wind,
Thou art not so unkind
As man’s ingratitude.”

An elderly mother was bedridden with her final illness. The three married children, two sons, and a daughter were called to her bedside. Conscious but weak, the mother smiled weakly at their presence. One of the sons bent over and said, “You’ve been a good mother.” With a sigh, the mother whispered, “Do you mean that?” “Of course, you have,” all three children joined in. The mother’s voice came again very faintly, “I didn’t know. You never said it before, and I didn’t know.” Unfortunately, some live a long time before they ever say thanks to God or another person for the blessing of human kindness. Sometimes the expression of gratitude comes as a surprise, yes, even a shock. A lady boarded a crowded commuter train. A man rose to give her his seat. She was so surprised, she fainted. When she came to, she thanked him for the seat. Then he fainted. Remember, the apostle Paul reminds us, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Let us pray: Loving God, we thank you for grateful people who care; a friendly visit, a listening ear, a funny card, a warm letter, a long-distance call, an e-mail, a bouquet of flowers, a book of inspiration. Thank you, Lord, for the ordinary days of simple pleasures and quiet charm; and for those extraordinary days of laughing and weeping when the drama and depth of life touch and warm our hearts. May gratitude for your amazing grace and unconditional love fall frequently from our lips. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today, I am deeply grateful for those of you who have supported the Dial Hope Foundation with a financial donation. Hope reaches others because of you. Thank you!

There’s an apocryphal story about an old married couple. The wife said, “Why do you keep talking about the mistakes which I made in the past? I thought you had forgiven me?” The husband replied, “I have forgiven you; I just wanted to make certain that you don’t forget that I have forgiven you!”

That’s not really forgiveness, is it? That’s bookkeeping. Keeping track and holding on to the past mistakes and failures of others will only weigh us down. There is no way to heal and move on unless we truly let go.

Writing about God’s forgiveness of us, God’s love for us, and our ability to share those same gifts with others, Franciscan Theologian Richard Rohr puts it this way, “I really cannot imagine a larger and more spacious way to live… Forgiveness might just be the very best description of what God’s goodness engenders in humanity…”

May you come to see the ability to forgive and let go as a gift. If there is someone you need to forgive, or if there is something you need to let go of, may you do so today.

Let us pray: We remember today, O God, that you have forgiven us, and that there is nothing we could ever do to separate ourselves from your love in Christ. We turn over to you now those events of the past that have hurt us… We turn over the people who have wronged us… Even still, we know that there are some people who might continue to hurt us. In those cases, give us the courage to ask for help if we need it and to keep strong boundaries, and then to let go. As we forgive, as we let go, may we experience a lightness and your healing grace. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.