June 2020 - LPNI

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June 2020

LPNI Devotion – June 2020

Viral love

It’s gone viral. We hear this on the news or from a friend, and we need to check it out. Usually it’s a video or a picture. It means that this has been liked by a lot of people or has affected a lot of people. It can be humorous, heart-warming or stunning.

The world has gone viral. This time it’s a real virus that hasn’t only affected a lot of people; in one way or another it’s affected everybody. We’ve become all too familiar with its name: coronavirus — ‘corona’ meaning crown. Its name comes from the virus’s crown-like spikes. We’re part of something historic that will change us for a long time to come, perhaps forever.

We may not have the virus, but we also have a crown. But it’s a very good crown. St Peter says: When the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (1 Peter 5:4)

St Paul wrote: Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)

And St James wrote: Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)

What a contrast from the coronavirus to the crown of life! But the Christian faith is full of such contrasts: a crown of sin and death and disease to a crown of glory, defeat to victory, lockdown to freedom, death to life. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. (Romans 8:28)

Jesus wore a crown. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. (John 19:2) It’s because of that crown that we are promised a crown, and can experience joy and confidence, even in the midst of a pandemic. It’s through his crown of thorns and the ‘throne’ of his cross that he paid for our sin, and not only ours, but the sin that’s infected the whole world. He rose to life, signifying his defeat of all that can destroy us. It’s Jesus’ love that saves the day!

During these days of struggle, may Jesus’ love go viral. Bless the Lord, my soul … who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion. (Psalm 103:1, 4) Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York (formerly of Milwaukee, WI, USA) said: ‘If you ask why God would allow this [pandemic] you also have to ask ‘why’ to the selfless acts of love shown in the midst of it.’ Nurses, health-care workers and various first responders are behaving as and are called heroes. People are reflecting Jesus’ love and exercising their trust in God in new and stronger ways.

May the Good News of Jesus’ love go viral in your life; a love that will be your crowning glory forever.

Rev. Fred Zimmermann

pzjerusalem@yahoo.com