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Hello St. John’s
I received some difficult news Tuesday evening: a close friend of our family is entering into a new phase of his battle with cancer. His wife and children have hope, still they recognize this time with him is a precious gift. For him, faith and family have always come first, so it is no surprise that his family can draw upon the source of his faith in these trying days; and yet I find myself encouraged by the deep love and joy they express for one another, even as they grieve and process how life is changing for their family.
As I reflected upon this news, I thought that although we may wish for life to present us with obvious choices - either “this” or “that” - a life of faith often requires us to wrestle with the reality that two seemingly disparate things can both be true. We celebrate life even as we grieve. We continue to pray, even when prayers seemingly go unanswered. We have hope in brighter tomorrows, even when our yesterdays and todays seem clouded by darkness and doubt. We dedicate ourselves to our Church, even when institutions - including churches - have failed us in the past.
Why put our faith in God, when there seem to be so many reasons not to?
For me the answer is clear: we can accept that two seemingly opposite things can both be true because we serve a Risen God! Yes, Jesus died - but He did not stay dead. Our God is a God of transformation; there is no situation that God cannot turn around for our good (Rom 8:28)!
During Lent we acknowledge we have all fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23), but, thanks to Grace, our story doesn’t end there. As we’ve studied Matthew 23, we experience Jesus’ strong rebuke of the actions of the Pharisees: but there is more. Christ’ rebuke does not withhold grace. For as Jesus calls out their hypocritical actions, Christ acknowledges that they teach the Law accurately. Jesus’ “Woe” is a warning, not a full condemnation. Jesus even offers these Pharisees a path toward redemption.
God’s Law exists so we can have a healthy, fruitful relationship with God. But Jesus is the ultimate example of Grace, God’s unmerited favor. By Christ’ suffering, death and resurrection we can be in eternal relationship with God, despite ourselves. Just as “the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23),” by Jesus’ stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). Two things can be true at the same time.
As we approach the end of Lent, let the attention we give God and our actions towards one another demonstrate how precious a gift life touched by Grace is to us. Let our hearts be warmed by a God who loves us so much Jesus suffered for us. Let us find joy and peace in knowing that we serve a Risen Lord!
In Christ,
~jt
John-Thomas Crockett
Dir. of Youth & Family Ministries
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