He got up! So now what?

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! -- The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!

On Good Friday, we remembered the agony, shame and sufferings of Christ's terrestrial existence.  After he died, he was buried and left in the tomb for the completion of the burial rite after the Sabbath.   I'll be the first to admit, Christianity requires a lot of buy-in.  The Christian faith tells us that the divine loved humanity so much, that he sent his only son, to live as one of us, to shake up the first century world, and to be murdered.  Then -- it gets better.  Jesus was murdered and has been resurrected and got out of a grave?  No wonder people tend to look at Christians as if we're a little off our rocker.  That's some hard stuff for anyone to take in.  My Christianity is as much a part of my identity as my nationality, race and last name.  The Christian story of love and redemption is a difficult one to grasp, which leaves, even its most seasoned and learned adherents frequently questioning at length.  My favorite resurrection account comes from the Gospel of Luke.

"But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body.While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened."  Luke 24:1-12

The first time I recall hearing this gospel preached, was by my former pastor, The Reverend Kimberly Lucas.  I want to pose the same question to you that Jesus posed to the women, as well as Rev. Kim to the parishioners of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church.  "Why do you look for the living among the dead?"  Each day we awaken into the glory of God.  We are blessed with another opportunity to make a difference, to be a blessing to someone, to walk and talk with a stranger or friend.  At the same time, we are in a quandary of life and death.  We are walking into the new life that God through Christ has given us, but simultaneously trying to resuscitate the dead things that the Holy Spirit has liberated us from.  Why are we chasing the dead things that have us bound?  The failed relationship?  The lost job or home?  The hurts from the past, mingled with anger, bitterness and resentfulness?  Why are we looking for new life in this valley of death and dry bones?  

Beloved, the resurrection of Christ sealed the deal on an eternal kinship and adoption made centuries before our existence.  We are the beloved of God.  Because Jesus got up, we can too.  Our despair can arise into joy, our strife can be turned into unity, our bitterness and hatred into love and reconciliation.  Why do you look for the living among the dead?  As the old song reminds us, because Jesus lives, we can face tomorrow, all fear is gone and we know who holds the future.  Life is worth the living because HE lives in and through each of us.  Alleluia! Christ is Risen within YOU!

Faithfully,
Karr

It is finished - Stations 13 & 14

One of Jesus' saying from the cross, or "Seven last words" was "It is finished!"  At this point, the crowd and the onlookers had gone home to prepare for the Sabbath.  The Roman execution officers had clocked out.  The disciples had probably gone into hiding, fearing for their lives.  Everyone in Jerusalem was probably talking about the crucifixion and the strange events that surrounded it that day.  To human understanding, this was the end of a very sad story.

In Station 13, Jesus' body is taken down from the cross, presumably given to his mother.  I could imagine Mary still in shock, horror and grief as she receives the mutilated corpse of her son.  She is now charged with burying him.  In Station 14, Jesus is buried in a borrowed tomb.  Joseph of Aremithea, was instrumental in all the logistics of Jesus' burial.  The women wrapped Jesus' body in linen and he was laid in a tomb, with the rest of the burial ritual to continue after the Sabbath.

Sometimes in life, we have to face some dead end situations in which it is obvious that it's over, done, and on to the next.  Sometimes in those seemingly dead situations, we realize that it is not finished, but rather the door to a new opportunity has been opened.  Often times pain, loss and rejection steer us in another direction.  A direction of hope, promise and potential.  Look at the seemingly finished situations in your life today and speak life into them.  We know that it is not finished.  Keep the faith!  TO BE CONTINUED!

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus crucified, help me to realize that the story is not over.  Your perfect work is not complete in me.  Help me to be patient with myself and others, as we come to realization that it is not finished, but just beginning.  Amen.

Faithfully,
Karr

Love is the reason - Station 12

Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."  And having said this, he breathed his last and died.

There were many puzzling events that happened around the time of Jesus' death.  At about noon, darkness covered the land, after Jesus' death there was an earthquake and the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom.  Could you imagine being an eyewitness to this single event that would change the trajectory of human history?  Could you imagine being there the previous Sunday shouting "Hosanna" and then in less than a week be a part of the bewitched mob that were yelling crucify him?   

All these events, regardless of how gruesome and anti-human were a part of God's master plan to reconcile humanity to the creator and each other.  Could there have been an easier plan B?  Probably.  When I have conversations with inquirers and new converts, they almost always ask "Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?" The answer is a simple one syllable, four-letter word.  LOVE.  I am reminded of a gospel song recorded by the Sidney A. Locks Mass Choir of Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church, "Love is the reason."  

"Love is the reason I'm here today.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son.

And the son gave his life for you and for me.

When he suffered, bled and died on Calvary.

Love is the reason, the reason I live this life."

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus crucified, love is the reason we live this life.  Make us ever mindful and ever grateful of your love for us.  Make us agents and instruments of that same love.  It is through your holy crucifixion and resurrection that we move, live and have our being.  Amen.

Faithfully,

Karr

Nailed - Station 11

On the first Good Friday, I bet Jesus did not belt out at the top of his lungs "Thank God it's Friday!" I'm sure that if Jesus had a twitter account, he wouldn't have hashtagged #TGIF on this dreadful morning.  In Station 10, Jesus is nailed to the cross.  After his last supper and evening with friends, prayer, arrest, denial by Peter, trial and condemnation to capital punishment by means of crucifixion, and a dusty walk outside of Jerusalem on the Via Dolorosa, Jesus is nailed to the cross.  I can only imagine his pain and anguish, as he was nailed to that cross.  They say that a picture is worth a thousand words.  Look at the images below and think on them this blessed Good Friday.

        

 

"Were you there when they crucified my Lord?  Were you there when they crucified my Lord?  oh, Oh, OH!  Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.  Were you there when they crucified my Lord?  Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?  Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?  oh, Oh, OH! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.  Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?"

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus crucified for us.  Have mercy on us.  Amen.

Faithfully,

Karsten

Naked and not ashamed - Station 10

I'm not quite sure how I would react if my clothes were unwelcomingly ripped off my body.  I like my clothes a lot, I would not have bought them if that were not the case.  Regardless of whose label is on the garment, Ralph Lauren (my preferred), Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Faded Glory or Merona, our clothes on some level represent our status in society.  They cover parts of the body, that are deemed not appropriate for public exposure.

Here we are, Station 10.  Jesus is getting stripped of his garments.  Just as Adam and Eve realized that they were naked in the Garden of Eden and had to face consequences for disobedience, Jesus at this moment is preparing for what might be potential abandonment from God, not for anything that he had done, but rather for us.  In the midst of his semi nude state, Jesus was still moved with compassion enough to forgive one of the malefactors crucified with him and welcome him into paradise.

In order to bathe or take a shower, one must be naked.  We have been cleansed and washed anew into life eternal through Jesus' nakedness, shame and humiliation.  Our sins have been separated as far as the east is from the west in Jesus' nakedness.  Nakedness reveals vulnerability.  As you go to that vulnerable place, remember that Jesus is there with you.  He's already walked the road ahead of you and he is willing to walk with you the rest of the way.  In the midst of your nakedness, remember that you are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus crucified, who took on our sins in the midst of humiliation and vulnerability, strengthen us that when our weaknesses are exposed, we will rest in your grace and mercy.  Amen.

Faithfully,
Karr

Down again - Station 9

One of my favorite commercials as a teenager was for LifeCall.  In this commercial, Mrs. Fletcher, an elderly lady falls in her home and can't get up.  The memorable line from this commercial is "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!"  The journey to Calvary continues.  Jesus is in a state of mental anguish, extreme fatigue, and hunger as he has been abused, cursed at, spat upon and condemned.  There were some people that helped him out along the way, Mary, his mother, Simon, Veronica and women of Jerusalem.

In the mid-day heat, Jesus falls yet again for the third time.  In the LifeCall commercial, Mrs. Fletcher could not get up.  Jesus however, had no choice but to get up.  He could have easily laid on the dusty ground, and just given up.  He could have easily called for a legion of angels to come wipe out the city of Jerusalem and all the spectators.  Jesus arose from his final fall knowing what  needed to be done.  Instead of doing what would be easy for himself, he became the ultimate sacrifice and model of selfless love.  Because Jesus got up, we too can get up and walk into new mercies, each and every morning.  We can walk with love and charity in our hearts.  When we fall, let us be ever mindful that we have to get back up, although it may be easier to lie in our dust of self-loathing, bitterness, contrariness and melancholy.  Jesus got up, so that you could get up and face your cross at this very hour.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus crucified, help us to remember that when the weights of life become too burdensome for us to bear, help us to remember that you are always there.  Make us ever mindful that because you got up, we too may get up and arise in your glory.  Equip us to help those around us that may have fallen and feel as if they have no hope.  Amen.

Faithfully,
Karr

Don't cry for me - Station 8

A lot of times we tend to focus so much on the relationship that Jesus had with his disciples, that we forget about the fact that Jesus had a major fan base of women.  If Facebook were around in the first century, it may be safe to assume that the majority of people that would "like" or follow Jesus would have been women.  Women often ministered to and with Jesus.  Jesus openly spoke about theology to women, and even entertained a woman at the well, who had five previous husbands and was living with a man to whom she was not married.  To take it a little further, he asked the same woman at the well, who was a both a Samarian and ceremonially uncleaned for a drink of water.  Women were the apostles to the apostles, they were the first to see the resurrected Jesus. 

In the first century, women, especially the widows and poor were deeply marginalized.  They had no one to care for them nor claim to anyone's inheritance for survival.  Through Jesus' interactions with women, we see a man who is bold enough to counteract the societal norms of his times, while embracing radical feminism.  So then, it is no wonder that on the road to Golgatha, the women would be weeping and wailing without consolation.  If we were to take a roll call of the women who were there, I wonder who would be present and accounted for.  Would we see Mary and Martha?  How about the Syrophoenician woman?  What about the Samarian woman at the well and Mary Magdalene?  What about the Jairus' daughter, whom Jesus resurrected and the unnamed woman with the issue of blood who touched Jesus' garment and was healed?

I imagine that all the women following Jesus' execution procession had been touched by him in some meaningful way.  Some of these women had been cast out and cut off from society, banished from public worship and narrowly escaped being stoned.  It is no wonder that these women would be weeping for a man who looked beyond their status as women, but regarded them as equal children of God.  With pain in his eyes, Jesus told the daughters of Jerusalem, "Don't weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children."  At this point, Jesus did not want pity or sympathy, he simply wanted redemption for all and the fulfillment of God's will.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus crucified, help us to be moved beyond tears with compassion to minister to those who, in the eyes of society have no hope.  Help us to be bold in our witness, as you ministered to the women, and all those deemed in the eyes of society as the least of these.  Amen.

Faithfully,
Karr