Easter VII, Year C
Acts 16:16-34 + Psalm 97 + Rev 22:12-14,16-17,20-21 + John 17:20-26

Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.   Revelation 22:17

Flooding?  In Kansas? 

Even a creek can become deadly very quickly if conditions go wrong -- and they did last week.  Almost the entire town of Greenburg was leveled by a tornado.  10 people died, and the storm triggered flooding throughout the state.

As daunting a thing as finding immediate help in the midst of such a horror is, it isn't as big a challenge as securing help for the long-term rebuilding of a devastated community.  Episcopal Relief and Development's newly formed Long Term Recovery Committee will work with the two Episcopal Dioceses involved, Kansas and Western Kansas, to provide information and help for disaster victims during the recovery process and important aid for communities that do not qualify for assistance from the federal government.

The water of life can become the chaotic waters of death a matter of seconds.  It can take years to recover from a few terrible moments.  But Jesus used the image of the water of life to mean many things besides drinking water: for us, it is also the unending love of God, coursing like a mighty river through the joys and sorrows of human history, never destructive, always life-giving -- sanctifying and healing everything in its path.