“…that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”

1 Corinthians 15:4

Lent has drawn to an end…

It has not been an easy lent,

but rather – a Holy one.

And I believe many, if not most of us, with all that is going on in the world, can attest to this same feeling.

When was the last time you can remember a lent of suffering – alongside Jesus – such as this?

Our Church, our World, our Community, our Families –

each have experienced a tremendous level of suffering, in one form or another.

And yet…

we have experienced these same deep levels of

love,

in it’s midst.

Besides, isn’t that what Lent is all about?

Love!

(Shout “Amen,” if you agree!)

My dear friend invited me to following along with her in reading The Little Black Book; which is compiled of six-minute daily meditations to reflect upon, during the Season of Lent. Today’s Good Friday meditation sums up, far better than I, just how integral LOVE plays into suffering – when lived out in the same way as Jesus’ depicted in His love for US.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father.”

Matthew 26:26-29

The sufferings of Jesus may make me uncomfortable. God the Father may seem demanding or cold to make his only son go through all these torments to redeem me.

My sins may seem like a debt that needs to be paid – but I can’t pay it so Jesus pays it for me by suffering and dying in my place. God the Father seems like a cruel creditor, carefully measuring the debt owed to him because of sin.

But that’s not the way it was at all. In the Gospels, the death of Jesus was not a matter of paying a debt.

It was a matter of love.

An act of perfect love.

Jesus the man loved God fully and (as it turned out) this love involved human suffering. His suffering was the expression of the love of a human being infused with divine love for God.

That love – not the suffering – is the important part.

The Little Black Book

There have been so many acts of great love extended to those in need during this time of suffering in our World. Nightly we listen about this in the News broad-casts. Daily we read about it in the Newspapers or online. And hourly we experience it in the out-reaches from family, friends, or neighbors – who check-in, or wave, or share a smile.

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In just three days we WILL experience the great JOY which comes from the Resurrection.

And I believe that – filled with great hope – likewise, we will very soon experience this same JOY, as our World heals & is made new again.

(Shout “Amen,” if you agree!)

hugs n’ Easter Blessings – especially to all those who are joyfully sharing great hope & love, during this time of temporary suffering!