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Across the Pastor’s Desk by Don Rose

 

The Tale of Two Cities begins with “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.”

These days certainly appear to be the latter rather than the former. The number of affected persons rises, deaths increase and everyday life is in turmoil. Truth is badly battered and there seems to be little or no good news. Even Easter won’t be celebrated as it typically is and other religious celebrations and traditions are equally in jeopardy.

In the midst of everything, it is difficult to see any of the best of times. Yet, regularly stories appear of people reaching out to people to help in any way they can. Health care providers and emergency workers risk their own health to serve those in need. The human spirit in the midst of trial witnesses to the good even of these times. And Easter, too, will be celebrated.

Fortunately Easter is not dependent upon humanity and whether or not people can gather publicly. More than ever there is the realization that Easter is the great gift of God given for the sake of all of God’s creations. It is a witness to a new day, a new way of being and doing.

Tomorrow is Good Friday, the second of the great three days of the Christian faith. Much like these times, there appears to be little that is good in the scripture readings appointed for this day. Yet, it is the very darkness of the story of the betrayal, trial, crucifixion and death of Jesus that God’s desire for good for the whole of creation is ultimately revealed. In the events of Good Friday, the lengths to which God goes for the redemption of the world are revealed. Easter does not exist without Good Friday, and that is what makes it good.

The Easter celebration is at hand and God’s people will celebrate in new and different ways to announce to the world a message that needs to be heard again and again that death has lost its sting and that what is most important is to hold on to the promise that Apostle Paul first shared in his letter to the early believers in Rome, “Whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” That is the Easter promise to be celebrated every day.

Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!

Don Rose is a pastor at Mansfield and United Lutheran churches.