Having just survived my first winter in Pennsylvania, I found the
following story amusing. A singing group called "The Resurrection"
was scheduled to sing at a church. When a big snowstorm postponed
the performance, the pastor fixed the outside sign to read, "Resurrection
is postponed." While I do not want any more snow this year,
I do remember an unexpected snowstorm in April when I was a student
at Elizabethtown College.
My first read of this story focused on the snow, my second read,
on the resurrection. That's when the story lost its amusement. Resurrection
postponed, that's how I've been feeling lately. Easter is just around
the corner and I'm not ready to preach resurrection. With images
of the war in Iraq bombarding my life at every turn it's as though
I'm experiencing a never ending Good Friday. No matter where I turn
there are reports of death and destruction. The news of our 'embedded
reporters' is more than I can handle.
Their reports are either too horrifying or they portray the war
like a spectator sport with post-game interviews after each battle.
Either way, the pain and suffering is hard to endure. And I wonder
where is the Good News this year? How can we proclaim that "Christ
is risen" in these times of war?
The followers of Jesus had similar thoughts. They
were beginning to sense the battle that was being waged around them
and their teacher. After they gathered to celebrate the Passover
things began to move quickly. Jesus was betrayed and arrested, mocked
and tried, and then tortured to death on a cross. Some of the followers
witnessed the horror while others hid in fear. But all wondered
if there would ever be any Good News for their grief and fear.
Easter will come again this year, and when
it comes I will preach resurrection. In the meantime I need
to be kneeling in prayer, waiting in the shadows of death, waiting
to hear God's call to rise again with the community of believers.
I invite you to join me in
prayer.
O living Christ, come to us in the glory of your risen power.
Come to us in the humility of your wondrous love. Come and reign
among us!
Let new life course through our veins, new love bind us together,
and new vision spur us on to follow you forever. Amen.1
Waiting for resurrection,
Bonnie
1 adapted from Hymnal: A Worship Book, #677.
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