During Easter morning worship, I passed out small white boxes to everyone in our 10:30 service.  These little white boxes are to be reminders that the tomb of Jesus was empty, empty of his body with only the burial coth and linens left behind.  I asked each person to set that little white box somewhere where it would be noticed each day, and to remove the lid from the box so we would be reminded each ay that not only was the tomb empty, but we are also to empty our hearts and open them to the love of God.

In 1 John 4:7-8 we read: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."  Such love, such Christian caring love, calls us to keep our hearts open to each other.  We need to overcome dfferences and individual quirks, cherishing the uniqueness of each person and celebrating what we have in common - Jesus died and rose for each one of us.  Our Lord did not rise out of the tomb just for the wealthy or for the poor, for leaders or for followers, for the wise or for the foolish, for the outgoing or the shy; he arose for each and every one of us!  Praise the Lord!  Hallelujah!

Through the wisdom and power of the Spirit, the Spirit we believe in as proclaimed in the words of the Apostles' Creed, through God's power within us, let us empty our hearts, holding nothing back, as we love and care for each other, and for people God brings into our daily lives.  Let us not think, "someone else will respond, someone else will love, as I'm already doing my part..."  Instead, let our mind set be, "Lord God, how can I encourage my neighbor who just lost her job?" or "Risen Lord, I don't know this man walking towards me on the sidewalk, as I say hello to him, let me smile and really mean it."  Let our hearts of faith not be closed to growth and challenge, but let us think, "Yes, Lord, introduce me to someone new today; let me not judge, let me love."

Let us live with grace and share the blessings of Easter!  Christ is alive and he lives in us!

Learn more about St. John's Christian Church online: www.stjohnsarchbold.org