The Lenten Journey Day 24

As we enter the second half of lent, the readings now center on the passion week leading up to the cross. Today’s reading is from Blaise Pascal in which the author centers on what he details as the Divine agony that Jesus goes through. He heals through his suffering and our suffering will be healed through him.

One comparison that intrigues me from Pascal is the garden of Eden and the garden of Gethsemane. Pascal brings it up in this way, “Jesus in a garden, not of delight, like the first Adam, who there fell and took with him all mankind, but of agony, where he has saved himself and all mankind. He suffers his anguish and abandonment in the horror of the night.”

One man enters into a garden of harmony and emerges shamed. The other man enters a garden shrouded in secrecy and sleep, emerging arrested yet ultimately victorious. Adam’s shame is covered by God and He is preserved. Jesus, not because of shame, but because of purpose and love is covered as well and in His suffering provides a redemptive covering available to all.

The Lenten Journey Day 23

Today’s reading by Kalil Gibran looks at how the day of Christ’s crucifixion is often treated with passing notice. Gibran builds the argument that modern humanity treats Christ’s death with a temporary sorrow and then goes about their business. He calls the reader to truly lament and associate with those who were deeply and permanently moved by the death of Jesus such as Mary his mother, Mary Magdalene, and those who truly heard Christ pronounce forgiveness.

Gibran efforts to show the perceived weakness of Christ’s death was actually a display of His divine power. This point is well made but gets close to equating power with a worldly definition of dominance. Ultimately the author’s point seems to be that the crucifixion looks weak but is actually God’s way of power.

Whatever the intention it does bring up another in a long line of apparent paradoxes of Jesus. The strength on the cross is not something that I have really thought about. I have heard the “power” of the cross as it applies to the means of salvation. But, I don’t know that I have ever considered that Christ is a picture of strength hanging on the cross atop Golgotha. This is strength from God’s perspective. The strength to persevere, the strength to forgive, and the strength to demonstrate love when evil seems so overpowering. The strength is not only in the empty tomb, true strength is on display in the lonely, disturbing cross.

The Lenten Journey Day 22

From Henry Drummond in reference to the Apostle Peter, “His fall is a lesson in sin that requires no teacher, but his repentance in salvation.”

Drummond writes that all humans can relate to Peter’s sin of denying Christ but what we need to learn is the lesson of repentance. The key to repentance, Drummond points out, is not Peter’s realization of his failure but the quick glance of Christ following the rooster’s crow. Perhaps too strongly but Drummond draws a distinct line between human sorrow and Divine sorrow. Human sorrow is just a realization of weakness and can fuel more selfish pride. Divine sorrow sees the deep need for God and turns fully to Him for forgiveness. I say its perhaps too strong because sometimes human sorrow leads to Godly sorrow. Overall Drummond’s reminding us to not be so quick to admonish Peter, because we have all been or are there. What we must know is the path to forgiveness that Peter eventually walks.

“Today, perhaps the Lord is turning and looking at you. Right, where you are, your spirit is far away just now, dealing with some sin, some unbearable weight; and God is teaching you the lesson himself- the bitterest, yet the sweetest lesson of your life, in heartfelt repentance.”

The Lenten Journey Day 21

In today’s reading, Romano Guardini, explores the blessing expressed by Christ in His post-resurrection encounter with Thomas. Jesus gives Thomas the proof he had asked for and then pronounces blessing on those “who have not seen and believe.” I think Guardini draws to narrow of a line between who is and is not blessed. He holds that Thomas just got what he asked for, yet the blessing was for those who would not get the benefit of seeing Jesus’ nail-scarred hands for themselves. I would maintain that the proof is Thomas’ blessing, and that Christ is emphasizing that His blessing extends beyond what Thomas received.

However, Guadini’s keen insight on seeing Jesus through the supposed mundane, day in and day out of living is very helpful. “And those are called blessed who make the effort to remain open hearted.” O, that our hearts would be open to the surprise presence of Christ in the midst of our normal days. May we pray to see Christ as we seek Him in our routine. Guardini ends with, “Blessed are those who can see the Lord in all these things!”

The Lenten Journey Day 20

John Dear (not John Deere, or a Dear John letter) writes a pointed essay advocating for complete non violence in today’s reading. Dear’s text is from Matthew 26:50-52, though the narrative is in the other three gospel accounts as well, and gives the account of Jesus’ arrest in the garden. One of His disciples, John tells us its Peter, grabs his sword and cuts off a soldier’s ear. Jesus immediately rebukes Peter and tell him to put away the sword.

Dear builds on this text and makes a case for pacifism for all believers in every area of life. He says definitively to the question of if Christians can be be employed by the Pentagon, the police, or the nuclear-weapon's manufacturers, “ If we will obey the last words of Jesus, the we will not, like Judas, side with the imperial authorities- and we will not employ their means of violence. We will refuse to carry weapons, even for the noblest reason, and we will not work for any institution that inflicts violence. We prepare, instead, to undergo what Christ undergoes.”

There are very legitimate arguments against Dear's absolute conclusions. For example, I would argue that it’s possible for Christians to have employ in “violent” institutions and work for reasonable peace from within instead of complete opposition from without. However, even if one disagrees with Dear’s conclusions, this text and the overall example of Jesus should challenge us at it pertains to the human penchant for destructive anger and violence.

Dear says that Peter, and other followers, were not really protecting Jesus with their swords but looking out for their own selves and interests. Do we resort to or promote violent speech/actions that more serve OUR causes than the purpose of Christ? Do we jump in with the mob or consider how the Spirit of God might have us to respond? Dear cites Isaiah’s call for turning plows into plowshares. I wonder if something like turning Facebook posts into notes of praise might be a contemporary application. It’s worth considering at least.