Prayer: Happy Easter

 Many blessings to all of you on this Easter morning. I have been reading a book by Gerhard Lohfink called "Jesus of Nazareth: What he wanted; Who he was," and it has provided crystal clear insights to questions that were never completely answered. I feel like I have a much clearer view of how Jesus thought about himself and his work in the world. He presents himself as a fully human being who is God's representative to the community of faith gathered around the eschatological Israel. He was certainly sincere and zealous, and all that he did was to bring awareness of the reign of God. His death was quite unfortunate, going to his death lamenting God's silence and the desertion of his friends. I have never felt so many emotions as my contemplation about his arrest, trial, and death, all in the context of the Passover meal when all of Israel gathered in Jerusalem.

I used to feel so down and somewhat tentative during Holy Week, which often seemed to have a rhythm and spirit of its own. It seemed like a time when the forces of the world took over and there would be heartache and desolation, but I always overlooked that this was God's week. It has always been God's time to be steadfast in abiding by the people God loved. The week is governed by God's fidelity, and the reality that this is about worshiping God. That makes all the difference in the world. Even through the brutal death of Jesus, God remains present in silence, and God is at work to reconcile all to God's self, and that is worth remembering and celebrating. 

What is the Resurrection? It is God's validation of the whole person of Jesus: what he taught, who he was, the community he called together, the mission he brought into focus. It means that we must continue the work of Jesus and to be the community he calls us to be. In that, we must sing: Alleluia. Alleluia.