Dear Parishioners and Friends,
During the Wednesday morning Eucharist, we read a passage from John which told the story of Jesus identifying the one who was to betray him. Judas Iscariot is perhaps the most reviled figure in Christian history. He was the trusted disciple who willingly betrayed the Son of God into the hands of those who hated him and sought his demise. We can look back on stories like these and shake our heads in dismay. The history of salvation is filled with accounts of humans failing to meet the mark in terms of their covenants with God. It seems as if the darkness always finds a way to obscure the light.
Except... There was once a young woman who was invited to participate in a new plan for our salvation. She was greeted by an angel and told, “Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God.” This young woman, Mary, accepted God’s challenging plan for her and all humanity. Through her, a savior was born. He lived as one of us and taught a new way to love God and one another, and for that he died.
Yes, it is easy to shake our heads in dismay, but it is not the Christian way. We know that God takes the worst of what the sinful world offers up and redeems it. He redeemed it once and for all through the sacrifice of his only begotten son. This is what we commemorate and celebrate this season of Holy Week and Easter. Yes, he died, but he also was raised. It is because of his one oblation of himself once offered that we can joyously sing, “O grave, where is thy victory?” The darkness can never overcome the light. We, through him, are the lights of the world in our generations. In a world of darkness, be the light.
Blessings,
Father Rick
