thursday of the fifth week in lent

Date:  April 7
Lectionary Link:  https://www.lectionarypage.net/WeekdaysOfLent/ThursFifthWeek.html
Contributor:  Mary Rowe

As I have been witnessing the courage and resiliency of the Ukrainian people over the past few weeks, a line from the collect jumped out at me,
 “Arm us with such trust in Him that we may ask no rest from His demands and have no fear in His Service.”
In repenting and turning away from fear and despair, thousands of Ukrainians are choosing to face the evil that is upon them and to face suffering and death rather than to cower. Their trust is in The power of good that will triumph over evil. Their trust is in the victory of our God to bring order and peace out of chaos and darkness. In choosing hope in the face of death, they have chosen life regardless of the immediate outcome.
As Christians we are called to witness the eternal Hope that is ours in Christ Jesus and to always look forward. Thousands of Ukrainians  are serving as a cloud of witnesses to us.
My prayer is that they will hold strong in faith, hope, and and in an awareness of God’s spirit with them. When our time of trial comes, I pray that we too will respond with such resolute courage and be acutely aware of the Spirit’s presence in our midst. Amen