Sometimes anxiety feels so overwhelming, so heavy, I strain to reach out for hope. Where do I find hope and peace? In Jesus’ words: “Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). I used to joke about that verse, saying, “Oh, great. There’s no way to escape or hide from Jesus.” Yet emotionally and spiritually, I would wonder: How could this be, if Jesus had ascended into heaven and is seated at God’s right hand?
It was through professing a simple creed, “Jesus is Lord,” that I began to express my belief. As I experienced the Eucharist and attended baptisms, “Jesus is Lord” became not just an expression, but an embodiment of Christ’s presence within the gathering of God’s people. The sacraments profess Jesus’ real presence – not just with us, but with all those Jesus accompanies. Understanding the meaning of “Remember, I am with you always” experienced so strongly in the presence of God’s people eases my burdened heart.
This message is excerpted from “A breath of life” by Tuhina Verma Rasche in the December 2020 Gather magazine.
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