Rise Up

“He walked up, opened the blanket, and laid his hands on the young man. The ones carrying it stopped and waited to see what he would do. “Young man,” he said out loud, “rise up!” To the amazement of all, he sat up and began to talk. Creator Sets Free (Jesus) then gave him back to his mother.” – Luke (Shining Light Tells the Good Story) 7:14-15 (First Nations Version).

Here we see another story of Creator Sets Free’s miracles. This time it is for a widow from Village of Harmony, or Nain in other translations, whose only son had crossed over. This was a significant loss for the widow. Not only did she lose her son, but her only source of protection, provision, and generational continuation was gone. Creator Sets Free affirms her deep grief, saying, “Do not weep. The Great Spirit has seen your tears” (v. 13). Creator doesn’t negate our grief but sees it. Granting the widow her son’s life back was also restoring her protection, provision, and the hope of generational continuation for her ancestors to live on.

Are there any petitions or promises we have stopped giving to the Great Spirit in our dancing prayers? Let us trust the Great Spirit to hear our prayers and not be afraid to speak them to the One who awaits them and gives us munay (unconditional love). Let us turn to Apu Jesucristo, knowing we can rise up in him each step of the way. In rising up, we embody his ancestral hope to pass on to our next generation.

Prayer

Thank you, Great Spirit, for seeing our tears. In your name, Creator Sets Free, we trust your munay with ancestral hope and generational expectation.