Rise, beloved. Christ has freed our hearts from fear. God’s own Spirit, the Advocate, brightly hovers and goes with us.

Our Lamb has conquered all evil and injustice. Our Lamb has conquered death and destruction. Our Lamb has conquered oppression and hatred.

“My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.”

Jesus instructs Peter, “If you love me, feed my sheep.”

And yet: Here, this morning, in this moment, we proclaim a defiant and unexpected resurrection. Hallelujah anyway.

It is a love poured out for us in the water that washes over our feet and in the waters that wash over us in our baptism.

These two women get it. They understand what it means to love Jesus into his future ...

Grace requires nothing of me. No expectation to be anything other than who we are: beloved children of God, loved wholly and completely.

Bloom where you are planted. Or maybe, better yet: Just be where you are planted.

St. Philip Lutheran Church 13 March 2022 + Lent 2c Luke 13.31-35; Genesis 15.1-12, 17-18 Rev. Josh Evans