Good morning, good God!
It’s the day after Easter and I’m wondering, Lord:
what was it like for your friends
just one day after you rose from the dead?
The women had come and found your tomb empty
and then ran home to tell the others…
That very evening you came to them
(though they’d locked all the doors
out of anxious fear for their safety)
you came just to speak your gentle word:
« Peace, my peace be with you, my friends… »
Did they toss and turn in their sleep that night
or stay awake, wondering
what all this might mean?
Then Monday came and I wonder, Lord:
were they still confused
and doubting their own experience?
fearful of what might yet befall them?
unsure of what to trust or believe?
afraid of what others might think
if they spoke of your resurrection?
Had they heard your merciful greeting?
your word of sweeping forgiveness?
your pardon of how they had failed you?
your gentle and healing blessing :
« Peace, my peace be with you, my friends… »
Once again it’s the day after Easter
and I offer, Lord, for your healing:
my doubts, mistrust and confusion,
my failure to witness to you
and my fear of what others might think of me
if I tell of your rising from the dead…
I offer my need for your pardon, Lord,
I offer my need for your grace:
my desire to hear you speak to my heart,
« Peace, my peace be with you, my friend… »
