From the Pastor's Desk

APRIL

Resurrection = Triumph & Joy!

We started our Lenten journey with these words at our Ash Wednesday service: “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Back then, with Good Friday still weeks away on the horizon, these words seemed counter intuitive, to say the least. Just how could suffering and shame co-exist with joy?

Max O. Vincent made an interesting observation on how Paul viewed the apparent joy paradox between Good Friday and Easter. He comments that the Apostle Paul, “looks at the cross through the lens of Easter and Easter through the lens of the cross.” That is the key that releases the tension and opens new possibilities.

In 1958, the Cunard company, offering luxury transatlantic passage, advertised the catchy and persuasive slogan "Getting there is half the fun.” In doing so, they partially flipped the script. Travel was not a means to an end, but part of the experience of getting to Europe - to be embraced, even enjoyed.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ brings meaning and purpose to the journey of life. Without the cross and the empty tomb, life's journey can feel like one hardship after another. But Christ is risen! Suffering and even death are seen through the lens of resurrection and triumph. And the resurrection and triumph of Jesus Christ is seen through the lens of our present suffering and death. Perhaps Karl-Josef Kuschel put it best, Easter, he says is “a joy with a garland of mourning!”

Easter Blessings,

Pastor Pat