Category: Easter

We wait through the day and the darkness for the Lord and His promised return. He told us but we didn’t understand that he would rise and leave the tomb, overcoming the final fear of humankind, death. With this miracle He alone would change all of history; we would mark the time which he created by His presence among us. Those at or near the Cross that Friday afternoon were filled with despair as their Lord gave up His spirit, crying out to the God of the Exodus and the Immaculate Conception “Why? Why have your forsaken me?” Was their last hope given up in that breath also? They could only spend the days in their personal darkness.

³ Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

⁵ If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. ⁶ For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— ⁷ because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹ For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. ¹⁰ The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

¹¹ In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Rom 6:3-11)

The clarity brought by standing distant from the event still does not preclude us from our own moments of vigil. Where is God in our lives? Has he forsaken us? Is the separation temporary, brought about by our own rebellion or is it meant to strengthen us in our trust? These questions race through our minds but can be quieted by the promise of the new day’s sunrise: He was risen and He will rise again in our hearts. We must simply trust through this day.

Bookending the ministry of the Christ are the events of Holy Week and the announcement of His ministry:

¹⁶ He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. ¹⁷ The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to release the oppressed,

¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

²⁰ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, ²¹ and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Lk 4:16-21

Preaching the good news and healing the broken, the essence of the Lord’s holy ministry and, by extension, our own. When we look to the heavens for a fresh vision for the fulfillment of our calling our eyes and hearts are drawn back to the utter simplicity of our mission: love others as the beloved of the Almighty King. You and I can proclaim the good news of freedom in Jesus Christ in myriad ways. We can heal the broken and shine a light so bright that sight for blindest can be attained. Our lives with each breath and act can proclaim again and again that we live in the year of the Lord’s favor. We can do all of these things if we put aside our fears, trusting in the miracle of the Risen Christ. Do you believe?

The Suffering Servant speaks:

The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue,

to know the word that sustains the weary.

He wakens me morning by morning,

wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.

⁵ The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears,

and I have not been rebellious;

I have not drawn back.

⁶ I offered my back to those who beat me,

my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;

I did not hide my face

from mocking and spitting.

⁷ Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,

I will not be disgraced.

Therefore have I set my face like flint,

and I know I will not be put to shame.

⁸ He who vindicates me is near.

Who then will bring charges against me?

Let us face each other!

Who is my accuser?

Let him confront me!

⁹ It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me.

Who is he that will condemn me?

Isaiah 50:4-9a

The Servant moves a day closer to the Cross with the rising of the sun this morning and yet, knowing the travail that He faces, fixes his unturning face toward Golgotha. He sets the example for our own journey in God’s will. We can let the world see the shine in our face though it may be spat upon. We can turn an unscarred cheek toward our attackers. We can do all of this without concern because we are secure in God’s grace. We are adopted as co-heirs along with our Servant brother. If the Lord is for us, who can be against us?

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

³⁶ Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”

Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”

³⁷ Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

³⁸ Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

(Jn 13:36-14:1)

How many times have we been in Peter’s sandals? We have committed and recommitted to our Lord thinking that somehow He is not privy to the alternate plans that lie within our hearts. As Holy week progresses toward the history changing events of the Easter weekend, we see the definition of full commitment, unwavering and unswerving. Our Lord expects nothing short from us though He is fully aware of our duplicitous natures. For this He gave us the Holy Spirit, a presence that transfers the full Kingdom commitment to us if we are surrendered to His will. Let this be the week we surrender in full.