May 6, 2018 6th Sunday of Easter B

Acts of the Apostles 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48

Psalm 98

1 John 4:7-10 or 4:11-16

John 15:9-17 or 17:11-19

The circumcised believers…were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles…

Acts 10:46

Lord, sometimes unexpected things happen to us that rock us to our foundation.  We can be completely blindsided by news that turns our world upside down.   Events like a surprise pregnancy, a job change, or a signing of a peace treaty between mortal enemies.  You can astound us like you did the Jewish-Christians when you gave your Holy Spirit to people they had thought were outside your love.  Change can be hard for us.  Lord, I believe you know best and have a perfect plan for our world and for me.  You sometimes ask me to go outside my comfort zone and open myself up to a stranger or lead me to forgiving someone who has hurt me.  When you stretch my faith I can have doubts or I can even struggle to stay where I am.  But I know that resistance to your will for me is futile.  I want to cooperate with you and be the person you created me to be.  Dear Jesus, please be patient with me today and if you want me to step out in faith in a new direction I trust in your grace.  I know that if you are present all will work out for the best.  Amen.