For an entire year, my precocious son Finn, number 6 in the Mason line-up, wore his Spider Man costume everywhere. We would all giggle because he would come into the kitchen dressed in his school uniform or play clothes and make sure everyone saw him. Then he would disappear just like Peter Parker, and return transformed into Spider Man. He liked the mystery of becoming a superhero right before our eyes. One day, while chopping celery, onions, leeks, and carrots in the kitchen for a chicken soup, Finn stood quietly beside me. And then he said in complete seriousness, “Mom, do you think it is possible I could have a superpower?”

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are told in Acts that Jesus’ best friends, and those he loved dearly gathered in the Upper Room in Jerusalem. Peter, Beloved John, Mary Magdalene, Mary, Jesus’ mother, and the rest of the disciples all returned to the sacred space where Jesus had washed their feet and served them that final “love meal.” I cannot imagine the pain, the grief, the insecurity, the doubt in that room. Their beloved leader was no more. Where could they go from here? The easy choice was to return to their lives before Jesus, hope lost, the love mission abandoned.

But something transpired in that room that would change history forever. A miracle.

Hear Acts 1:14 “The disciples agreed they were in this for good, completely together in prayer, the women included. Also Jesus’ mother, Mary, and his brothers.”

Jesus’ inner circle remembered, even in the grief, what Jesus had said, “The Spirit is in you and will be with you always.”

The answer is “Yes” to Finn. You do have a superpower. And so do I. And so does every single person with a beating heart. Following the tragedy at Covenant, I have watched how ordinary people have transformed into superheroes right before my eyes and accomplished extraordinary things in the name of love. I saw it on Monday in the ER at Vanderbilt Children’s hospital. I witnessed it at the Dieckhaus home where friends and family teamed up like the Marvel superheroes. I am so proud of my church who continues to be a force of love. Even the city of Nashville’s superpowers have been activated!

At our heart’s center lies a superpower waiting to be used for the greater good. We have within us infinite goodness, powers to heal, to show mercy, and, especially, to love as God loves. We have everything we could possibly need within us to become a superhero. We just have to believe it, and then have the courage to use our powers.

The Disciples, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus, made a courageous, sacrificial choice. They chose to carry Love forward.

Here we are in that Upper Room again. We know that Death will not win—Ever! Resurrection is the promise. Thanks to Jesus, we have proof. We should not be afraid, but rather galvanized to activate the intuitive and love-focused powers at our center. What shall it be? Will we go back to our little self-focused lives and forget that we were made for bigger things? Or will we dare to be better than we ever thought we could be?

The Disciples were superheroes whom we now call saints.  I remind you they were just ordinary folk like you and me who chose to be on the side of love bringing heaven to earth. I love Dr. Cornel West’s marching orders! He said, “A saint ain’t nothing but a flawed human being who looks at the world through the lens of the heart.”

God uses imperfect people to help save the world. Nothing feels better than participating in something larger than yourself. If there was ever a time that our world needs superheroes, it is now! Activate your heart! First mission: Pass on a word of hope.

***Original Art by Rose Mason for Art Teacher at The Covenant School***