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Solidarity to the brink of death, painful death, and beyond.
Never think that God doesn't understand your pain. He was there.
"He was tortured, murdered and buried." Just like every other man
and woman who has ever lived on the face of the Earth.
This knowledge of God's isn't something hard to comprehend, like
omniscience, it is blood red, it is water flowing
from a spear wound, it is nails pounded into human flesh. It just
doesn't get more real than that.
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with
our weakness. . . "
He bore our infirmities and our
sufferings -- and by His stripes we are
healed.
Can we bear to behold such solidarity? Today we venerate and kiss
the Cross, symbol of our Savior's offering,
but isn't true veneration of the Cross the willingness to live the
life-poured-out-for-others that it symbolizes? Today, tomorrow and
the day after that?
So what if we are not all Mother Teresa or St. Francis -- does
this mean that we must close our eyes to what is happening
all around us? I think that too often we prefer our Christ safely
nailed to a cross, preferably a nice pretty gold or silver
cross. But the
question of Good Friday is -- Where is our solidarity today with
the Jesus who is among us?
Would we consider moving to an urban inner city? Would we
volunteer our time in the urban inner city? Would we speak
out against unjust war when the crowds are chanting "Crucify those
Iraqi bastards!" What about an impoverished rural community along
the Rio Grande,
or in the Navajo Nation? Do we spend more on fun and frivolity
than we share with those who are in need? Can we kiss a Cross in
our church,
and then turn our backs on it when we are out in the world?
As we have journeyed through Lent and into Holy Week, the call to
daily conversion of life is consistent and without any ambiguity.
We do not have to walk in misery and darkness. We can break free
of the chains of slavery to materialism and consumerism and
violence and
lust and greed and all the other sins of this era. We can rise
with Christ to new life, a more holistic life, with balance and
healing and virtue,
a generative life that brings forth harmony, reconciliation, and
peace, a joy that is rooted in service and holiness.
As the Good Thief discovered that day nearly 2,000 years ago, it
is never too late to turn back to God. There is never so much
water under the bridge,
that the bridge cannot be crossed. There is no burden so great
that Jesus cannot help you carry it. There is no one who is so far
away that
they cannot be brought near by the Blood of Jesus Christ, which
cleanses us from all sin and restores our relationship with God
and each other.
"So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and favor and to find help in time of need."
Holy Week Home Page + 2012 Year of Social Justice + HOME