LENT 2011: A POSTLUDE

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
 to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
(St. Francis of Assisi, 1182-1226)

O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee

O Master, let me walk with Thee
In lowly paths of service free;
Tell me Thy secret; help me bear
The strain of toil, the fret of care.

Help me the slow of heart to move
By some clear, winning word of love;
Teach me the wayward feet to stay,
And guide them in the homeward way.

Teach me Thy patience; still with Thee
In closer, dearer company,
In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
In trust that triumphs over wrong.

In hope that sends a shining ray
Far down the future’s broadening way;
In peace that only thou canst give,
With Thee, O Master, let me live.

(Washington Gladden 1879 – Presbyterian Hymnal 357)

EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 24

“… they came to the tomb bringing spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of Jesus.” (Luke 24:1-3)

They knew that their work was not done. The women who had followed Jesus for almost three years knew that their work was not done even though he was now dead. Jesus had been crucified by the Roman authorities and buried in a borrowed tomb. Because of the manner and speed of his death Jesus’ body had not been properly anointed. So as soon as the Sabbath was over, the women went to the tomb in order to give Jesus’ corpse the preparations it so richly deserved.

However, as Luke tells the story they did not find the body. The tomb was empty. We can only imagine what went through their minds. Who stole it? Who defamed their Lord? What were they to do now? Whom would they tell? But as quickly as those thoughts entered their minds they were startled by two men in white who asked them, “Why are you seeking the living among the dead?”

Such a statement was absurd. This is a tomb. This is where dead people are laid. Jesus is dead. They are looking in the right place. But the words that followed told them they were not in the right place. “He is not here. He is risen.” Those words were not expected even though Jesus had told his followers to look for him on the third day. Those words were not expected because the resurrection was something for the end of time, not for today. Yet, the body was gone. The men in white were there. Something was up...and it was Jesus.

What these women would soon discover was that even though Jesus was raised, their work was still not over. They had to go and tell the disciples. They had to go with the disciples to Galilee. They had to go and tell the world that God had broken the power of sin and death. They had to proclaim that God’s kingdom was unfolding in the world.

Our work is not over either. Easter is not merely a recollection of a past event. It is a reminder of future work. Just as the women had to go and proclaim God’s love and grace to the world, so too do we. So as this Easter passes remember, not only is Christ risen from the dead...but we are called to let people know that this is good news now and always.

John Judson