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| Morning in the woods |
This is why the Father loves me,
because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.
I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.
This command I have received from my Father.”
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.
I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.
This command I have received from my Father.”
The celebration of Easter, if it means nothing else
to us, should remind us again and again of God’s free gift of grace. The word grace
means free, as in freely given. Theologically, spiritually and
psychologically we have such a hard time grasping this foundational doctrine. We
fear it for it seems to mean that our own decisions mean nothing; and some will
suggest “Once saved, always saved!” as if our salvation is guaranteed despite
our sometimes heinous crimes. “If Adolph
Hitler Joseph
Stalin
Those conclusions miss the point because they fail to
appreciate the gift. They are still asking, “What’s in it for me?”
First we must contemplate Jesus ’
statements, “I lay down my life;” “I lay it down on my own;” and “I have power
to lay it down.” The initiative is entirely Jesus ’.
He went to Jerusalem Pontius
Pilate Jesus . His killing appears
to be an irrepressible, visceral reaction to God’s presence among us; and yet
the gospels underline Jesus ’ intentionality.
As John tells the story, Jesus
asked the arresting crowd, “Whom do you seek?” When they replied, “Jesus of
Nazareth” and he said, “I am he!” they fell to the ground. They could not move
until he permitted them to advance upon him.
What should be our reaction to grace? Not arrogance but
gratitude; not intemperance, but obedience; not indifference but eagerness to
…comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and
length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:18-19
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.