Easter 2020 It is a strange new world

It is a strange new world.  But when you stop and think about it, Mary is standing at the foot of the cross and her son says to her, “woman, here is your son” and then looking at John he says, “here is your mother”.  A strange new world. 
And then shortly after the body of her son disappears and they say he has risen from the dead.  A strange new world. 
And then in the upper room, Mary and the apostles are greeted by her son, not an apparition but in the flesh, and there is Thomas sticking his fingers in the wounds, it is a strange new world.
   As a child I was told to grow like a willow tree and not an oak or maple.  For the oak or maple does not like to change and when change happens they tend to die.  But the willow bends with the wind and endures the changes around it. The willow adapts and continues to grow.
  It is a strange new world but change is something that the scriptures and Jesus constantly call us to.  For the “I” must diminish and Christ must increase, is a constant reminder that we are called to grow and growth demands change. 
We will adapt and we will rise and gather again.  Jesus did not promise to take our struggling away, he promised to be with us in our struggles.  Jesus did not promise an end to death, he promised eternal life with Him.