WATCHWORD:
28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
Meditation:
April Fools
I’m an April Fool! I was born in April, therefore, I am an April Fool. Anyone else? How about this, I am a fool for good times, for sunsets and sunrises, for puppies, even kittens, seeing love within families, flowers in bloom, a good book, The Good Book, Rummikub and Five Crowns played with friends, good wine with Italian food, a drive into the country, classical music, country-western music, any music. Just look at that – I’m a fool for a lot of things. How about you? What would you put on your list? Every idea, every point, every thought, God blessed. Oh, and I am a fool for you!
April Fool’s Day. Time for a good story, like this one, entitled “I Don’t Believe God Exists” —
It started simply enough. “I don’t believe God exists”, Mike the barber said in a matter of fact way.
Bill went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation, telling stories as usual. They talked about politics and the elections, the state of the economy, their families and kids. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, Mike said: ‘I don’t believe that God exists.’
“Why do you say that?” asked Bill.
“Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn’t exist. Tell me Bill, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can’t imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.”
Bill thought for a moment, but didn’t respond because he didn’t want to start an argument. Mike finished his barbering job and Bill left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt.
Bill turned back and entered the barbershop again and he said to Mike, the barber:
“You know what? Barbers do not exist.”
“How can you say that?’ asked the surprised barber. “I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!”
“No!” Bill exclaimed. “‘Barbers don’t exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.”
“Ah, but barbers DO exist! That’s what happens when people do not come to me.”
“Exactly!’ Bill affirmed. “That’s the point! God, too, DOES exist! And that’s what happens when people do not come to God, too.”
Mike could only nod in agreement. Something he had to think about. Hmmm.
We come to God, praising the Creator for all the blessings that have enriched our lives, that have brought us through this Pandemic with our health reasonably intact, and an array of graces beyond measure when viewed through our Spiritual Eyes. April — spring is upon us. First the crocuses and the daffodils, the warmth of the April sun, and then an amazing array of new life, refreshed hope. Messages and promises from our Lord and Savior. Come to think of it, we are all blessed April Fools. Amen.
Bulletin Board:
Maundy Thursday — Arrangements are made for the Last Supper in the upper room in Jerusalem. During the meal, Jesus washes his disciples feet, and later announces that one will betray Him. After all have eaten, Jesus takes bread, calling it His body broken for all, and takes a cup, calling it His blood. Judas leaves the upper room, the others don’t know why. Later this evening, Jesus and disciples leave and cross the Kidron Valley to the Garden of Gethsemane for a time of prayer. They would be there until early Friday morning, Good Friday.
April Fool’s Day – a time for wise sayings from around the world –
Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself. Chinese
If you plant grass, you won’t get rice. Malaysian
If you can’t live longer, live deeper. Italian
A Sunday well-spent brings a week of content. Proverb
Dig your well before you are thirsty. Hindustan
If you count your friend’s mistakes, he will desert you. Arabian
Laughter is the remedy for 1001 illnesses. Azerbaijani
A small key can open big doors. Kurdish
Wisdom from Epictetus — If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer, “He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these alone.
Closing Prayer:
A fool though I am, Lord
let me not be like the fool whose thoughts are wicked,
who flirts with temptation, who “goes along to get along.”
Make me instead a person who loves your Word
and dwells on your presence.
Make me like a tree, planted by a flowing stream,
bearing fruit season after season,
never withering, always prospering,
in Jesus’ name, amen.
