Easter
So what does the empty cross mean? Why do we display it and why does it matter that almost two thousand years ago a couple of women showed up to mourn the body of a dead carpenter and instead found an empty tomb being guarded by angels?
You see my dear friends, when Christ was lifted up on the cross, all the sin that has ever been was laid upon him. He who never committed any crime but love became everything that I have ever done, all my hateful thoughts, all my snide comments, all my lustful glances and he was crucified in my place. At that moment, Christ was every tyrant, every thief, every liar that has ever seen the light of day; the King of Israel himself was every guard that gathered Jews into gas chambers. And there upon the cross he bore the penalty for all of it, the ultimate act of love from God towards the people of the Earth. Because He did this we can awake every day knowing God's intentions toward us - His arms outstretched from the very cross upon which we nailed him, embracing us, calling us back to him, saying, "This is how much you mean to me. Come back to me, for behold, here I have forgiven you everything you have ever said, did or thought."
So what's left then? Why this 'resurrection?' It means that He was stronger than our fallenness. It means that however terrible the price for our disobediance, it was not enough to destroy Him, that He triumphed over us and in so doing over our death. There is no sin in our lives than which the Lord, Jesus Christ, is not stronger.
In the last year I've struggled constantly with theological issues, feeling that I was obligatd to come up with the right answers to a host of impossible questions. This past weekend, in celebrating the Paschal Mystery both at Immaculate Heart of Mary (KSU's Newman Center) and at Parkside the reminder of God's unbounded love, poured out in His sacred blood from the Cross was the most needed thing of all.
The Vigil mass on Saturday night was, without question, the single most beautiful church service I have ever attended in my entire life. Isaiah 54 was one of the readings we heard in the nearly-pitch black church, and I hope never to forget repeatedly singing the response in the dark with tears in my eyes.
Is. 54:7-10
"For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you," says the Lord, your Redeemer. "This is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you. For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
The Response:
I will praise you Lord
You have rescued me
I will praise you Lord
For your Mercy
I will praise you Lord
You have rescued me
I will praise you Lord.
You see my dear friends, when Christ was lifted up on the cross, all the sin that has ever been was laid upon him. He who never committed any crime but love became everything that I have ever done, all my hateful thoughts, all my snide comments, all my lustful glances and he was crucified in my place. At that moment, Christ was every tyrant, every thief, every liar that has ever seen the light of day; the King of Israel himself was every guard that gathered Jews into gas chambers. And there upon the cross he bore the penalty for all of it, the ultimate act of love from God towards the people of the Earth. Because He did this we can awake every day knowing God's intentions toward us - His arms outstretched from the very cross upon which we nailed him, embracing us, calling us back to him, saying, "This is how much you mean to me. Come back to me, for behold, here I have forgiven you everything you have ever said, did or thought."
So what's left then? Why this 'resurrection?' It means that He was stronger than our fallenness. It means that however terrible the price for our disobediance, it was not enough to destroy Him, that He triumphed over us and in so doing over our death. There is no sin in our lives than which the Lord, Jesus Christ, is not stronger.
In the last year I've struggled constantly with theological issues, feeling that I was obligatd to come up with the right answers to a host of impossible questions. This past weekend, in celebrating the Paschal Mystery both at Immaculate Heart of Mary (KSU's Newman Center) and at Parkside the reminder of God's unbounded love, poured out in His sacred blood from the Cross was the most needed thing of all.
The Vigil mass on Saturday night was, without question, the single most beautiful church service I have ever attended in my entire life. Isaiah 54 was one of the readings we heard in the nearly-pitch black church, and I hope never to forget repeatedly singing the response in the dark with tears in my eyes.
Is. 54:7-10
"For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you," says the Lord, your Redeemer. "This is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you. For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
The Response:
I will praise you Lord
You have rescued me
I will praise you Lord
For your Mercy
I will praise you Lord
You have rescued me
I will praise you Lord.