Lenten Journal: The Mountiantop, For a Moment

I have spent the morning reflecting on these past few weeks. Lent is drawing to an end and we are in our final week. Seven more days until we lay our coats on the ground for a donkey to walk over. Seven more days for our eyes to rest upon the not so distant cross. Seven more days for our bodies to rest on this mountaintop.

As I look back over the scriptures, I discovered the journey of Lent to be like climbing mountain. Of course, we take one step at a time and all that mushy cheesy stuff. But what I am speaking to is something else. We have been traveling with Jesus as he ministers, preaches, heals, and offers us the full picture of the kingdom of God. Our journey leads us to a mountaintop.

Yesterday, I felt we reached the mountaintop. I felt we were given the privilege to look out over the vast love of Christ and see what he sees. The cross, though far off, was visible and the reality sunk in. There will be no other way, though I wish there could. I think we all do in some way. It would be nice to have Jesus around for a little while longer. But could we enjoy this time on the mountaintop without the journey? Could we rejoice in the resurrection without the Lenten journey?

Easter has become a time, like Christmas, that just shows up at the church. Many churches do not really prepare themselves for Easter. Preachers preach on whatever they want to or whatever series they've started or on the lectionary; but do they prepare their congregations for what's to come? Are they creating the freeing space to see Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter in a new holy light? Is that not what this journey does for us? Is that not what this time on the mountaintop do for us?

I reread my sermon yesterday, or homily, it wasn't really long enough to be counted as a sermon. I am not sure I conveyed the message that I felt Jesus was speaking to. We have travelled to the top of the mountain and like the people, we want to meet with Jesus. We want to hear one of his stories. We want him to tell us of God's gracious love. We want him to preach on the coming kingdom of God. We want him to burn the Pharisees one more time. We want to laugh. We want to hear Jesus one more time.

Yet, Jesus says, "No more stories. No more burns. No more sermons. I am only hear for a little while longer. You only have the light just a little longer. Enjoy it. Bask it in it. Sunbathe in it. Soak it in because soon the darkness will come and you will face a great struggle. But have faith because the Son of Man will be lifted up. Yes, I will die. Yes, it goes against what you've heard. Yes, it is true. But have faith because the Son of Man will be raised from the dead. For now, just enjoy this moment. Let us look out over the valleys and enjoy this day. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Just enjoy the view."

We are at the mountaintop. Let us stay here just awhile longer. Let us prepare our hearts and souls for the journey down into the valley of the cross. Let us go with courage and faith. But let us just sit for a moment and enjoy the view. Let's just sit on the mountaintop for a moment.

Lenten Journal: Words of Wisdom

“Die?” asked the crowd. “We understood from scripture that the Messiah would live forever. Why are you saying the Son of Man will die? Who is this Son of Man you are talking about?”

He looked at them compassionately and replied, “My light will shine out for you just a little while longer. Walk in it while you can, so you will not stumble when the darkness falls. If you walk in the darkness, you cannot see where you are going. Believe in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

He smiled his best smile, turned around, went away and was hidden from them.

If life was a musical I think this would be the time Jesus would sing a soft ballad. Something to ease the crowd while provoking thought of what was about to happen. He would have to sing something that could convey his message; something to remind us to let go. Perhaps he would sing, “When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be. And in my my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be.”

Perhaps he is whispering these words of wisdom to us as we gather this Sunday morning, “Let it be.”

Jesus' part in the story is coming to an end. Next week, we will gather and celebrate the entry of the king. We will lay our palm branches and our coats for a donkey carrying the Christ to walk over. We will rejoice that Sunday. Come the following Thursday, we will witness his betrayal. On that Friday, we will crucify him. On that Saturday, we will hide and mourn. Then, bright and early the following Sunday, we will rise up. That will be then.

As for today, let us look at Jesus one last time and let us hear his words to us, “Let it be.”

We have been preparing ourselves for these next two weeks. Our scriptures have focused on the journey to the cross. The cross as a way is becoming a reality. His words of prophesy are coming true. Do we have the faith to look up upon the cross with trusting eyes and hopeful hearts, hearing his words, “And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me. Shine until tomorrow, let it be”?

That has been the question we have been asking ourselves for the past 40 days. We have been asked to look upon the cross, not as something that is abstract and romanticized, but something that is very real. We have been asked to take up our crosses, carry them and when the time came to die upon them, to lose our lives for the gospel's sake. We are being shown the cost of bringing the kingdom of heaven to life. We are being shown the way, the way to the cross.

Let it be.

The best stories involve characters who are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve their goals. Characters who are willing to leave the comfort of the shires and travel into the fires of Mordor, they are characters we remember. Who will remember a Messiah who prefers the comforts of the throne and the power of the crown? Who will remember a Messiah who willing sacrifices others but will not sacrifice himself?

Our faith is built on the greatest story ever told. A story of a Christ who came to us as a carpenter's son, advocated for the poor and selflessness, preached of a kingdom that was coming, brought a message of love, grace, and mercy, willing went to the cross with the faith that death would not win. It is the story that will give hope to the early church as they faced death. It is the story that will challenge the powerful Roman church through the reformers. It is the story that has found its way into our lives. It is the story for which we are gathered. It is a story of a character who willing lays down his life for his friends.

Are you willing to lay down your life for the sake of the gospel?

Is that not the question Jesus asks when he says, “All those who want to be my disciples must come and follow me, because my servants must be where I am.”

Is that not the question we have been struggling with?

Let it be.

The next two weeks always bring up the tough questions. Many of us have grown up with the familiar answers. In a way, we've tamed the gospel because we do not find the struggle of the cross in our own lives. We struggle to grasp the story at hand because it has become a natural part of our faith. Perhaps though this Easter could be different. Perhaps this Palm Sunday will be different. Perhaps this Good Friday will be different.

Perhaps I will stop asking questions and saying, “Perhaps.”

Perhaps.

Until we know the answers, let us be satisfied with our questions. Let us trust there will one day be an answer and let it be.

Words of wisdom, let it be.

Lenten Journal: The Sound of Music

Last night I crossed off one of my wishes on my wish list: I attended my first Bruce Springsteen concert.

I did not get home until 3 am and I am running on pure adrenaline. The experience led to a restless night and just 4 hours of sleep. And some how I feel like a new man.

My face. Rocked off.

I went to the mountaintop last night abroad a train conducted by a madman and band who refused to stop or take a break for 3 hours until they got us to where we were going. I stood on the mountaintop as the hymns played and I found myself worshipping.

I wasn't worshipping a man. Don't get me wrong, I'm huge Springsteen fan but he's not God. No, last night he was merely the guide who led me to the mountaintop and there I worshiped.

It's fascinating what music can do for your soul. Especially good music by good musicians. It's no surprise David lamented and praised in the form of song.

Music has the ability to capture your soul and transport you to another place and time. To a place where a joyful noise is welcomed and encouraged. Transported to a place where voices join in chorus, "Come on up for the rising!" Transported to a place where you feet cannot help but move. Transported where you find your soul renewed and voice gone from singing and legs aching from dancing.

Music can send you to the mountaintop.

I am thankful for the experience last night.

I am thankful for a tired body with a renewed mind.

I am thankful I encountered the Almighty in a sea of people.

I am thankful for music that lifts the soul.

I am thankful for being sent to the mountaintop.

I am thankful for the strength it will give me as we walk down through the valley to Good Friday.

I am thankful for the freedom it will give us to dance come Easter Sunday.

Listen.

Can you hear it?

It's the sound of music.

Lenten Journal: A Lantern and A Dark Knight Born Again

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

Two of my favorite heroes, Green Lantern and Batman, are probably the most different superheroes one person could follow. Green Lantern works in the light while Batman prefers the dark. Green Lantern protects the entire space sector of 2814 while Batman watches over Gotham City, ridding the city of crime. Green Lantern is light, Batman is dark. Each one is a part of a universe in desperate need of heroes.

The Lantern understands that his/her light shines out in the dark universe giving hope to all who see the green light. Green Lantern Hal Jordan prefers to shine as a brightly as he can so the evil ones will come to him. Batman hides in the shadows scaring evil into the light. Two heroes: one of light and one of dark. Each one bringing those who do injustice to light. Each one fighting evil in their own way and own style. One of light and one of darkness.

And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.

In darkness, Nicodemus comes to Christ. He brings his questions to him and does not understand the answers. He lurks in the night for fear of being seen by his group, his friends, his social network. He moves through the back alleys and the rooftops and finds his way into a room with the light of the world. The dark and the light meet face to face. Nicodemus wishing to remain in the dark and Jesus telling him the light has come and only the evil prefer the dark.

Nicodemus wants to be a follower of Christ, evident in John 7:51. He likes Jesus and his questions in John 3 lead me to believe he wants to come out and be open of his belief but his questions showcase his fear. For him, it is safer to move about through the dark. It is better for him to wear the cape and cowl instead of basking in the light.

We are not that different than Nicodemus. We desperately want to follow Christ and we desperately want others to follow Christ so we put the flags of John 3:16. We testify to the light of John 3:16 but we deny the lifting up of the light. We deny the light to shine in the darkness because the light shines too brightly. We deny the cross as a way because we fear how bright the light could shine in a weak moment.

We are children of the light hiding in the dark because the light shows us our impurities. We cling to John 3:16 in hopes no one will see our own scars. We love the light of John 3:16. We fear the darkness of John 3:14. We fear what will come to light when we go to the cross. We fear we will not still be loved. The light of John 3:16 is greater than our darkest fear of hell. The lifting of the light of God that came into this world reminds us of God's compassionate unending love.

In the episode Hereafter, standing before Superman's tomb Batman eulogizes, “You showed me justice doesn't always have to come from the dark.”

Nicodemus struggles to understand Jesus' metaphors. For him, it is best to move through the shadows and work out of the darkness versus working in the light. He doesn't understand the notion of being born again. He is confused by the humility of the Son of Man being lifted up. He simply doesn't understand.

Or does he?

In John 7:51, Nicodemus defends Jesus when he tells the other Pharisees, “Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?” The Pharisees respond, “Are you from Galilee, too? Search the scriptures and see for yourself. No prophet ever comes from Galilee!”

In that small exchange, we see Nicodemus coming to an understanding of what Jesus means when he says, “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” He sees first hand there will no reasoning. The Son of Man will be lifted up on the cross. He learns that people love the dark instead of the light.

A popular church quote started popping everywhere called, “No Perfect People Allowed”. It was a statement stressing that we are all imperfect beings in need of God's uncompromising compassionate grace. The quote brought problems to churches who started to see themselves as imperfect. Instead of creating a sense of humility in the community, it began to breed emotions of fear and insecurity. Sinners started to darken the church walls and the church faithful begin to get worried. Unlike them, the sinners remained humbled and grateful for the God of John 3:16.

The church faithful, like the Pharisees, wanted to keep what was done in secret and in darkness, stay in the darkness. The more sinners darkening the church halls brought to light the sin of our own lives. Instead of finding the humility of John 3:14 and the grace of John 3:16, the church faithful turned away, preferring the darkness to the light. The light of grace towards the sinners revealed the skeletons in the closet of the church, and the church feared they would get sick once again.

If we are a people who have been born again in Christ, we are not afraid of the skeletons in the closet. A church which has been born again in Christ is not afraid of the sinners which sit in their pews and preach from their pulpits. Being born again sets us free. That is what Nicodemus struggles to understand. He cannot comprehend the freedom to stand in say, “Why are seeking to kill this man? Is God so small that a prophet cannot come from Galilee? Is God so small that the blind and lame cannot be healed but through our traditions? Is God so small that the weak cannot be made strong? Is God so small that justice only comes through the power of the government? Is God so small that his love conditional?”

Being born again in Christ frees us to see that the cross as a way because of the humility of John 3:14 and the grace of John 3:16. Being born again frees us to live a life of truth and justice. Being born again frees to not fear the dark but to shine as brightly as we wish. Being born again frees us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Being born again frees to look humbly at our sins and look at the grace of the cross with grateful hearts. Being born again frees to trust in the words of Christ. Being born again frees to be compassionate to others as God is compassionate to us. Being born again frees to go humbly to the cross.

What's that old hymn say?

When I survey the wondrous cross,

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

Save in the death of Christ my God;

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to the cross.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down;

Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

In two weeks, we will sing Hosanna. In three weeks, we will sing “Were You There” as Christ is crucified. Three days after that, we will sing, “Up From The Grave He Arose”. Today, let us open our eyes and look towards the cross with the humility of John 3:14 and the grace of John 3:16.

Lenten Journal: Remembering Wanting

I originally sat down this afternoon on my lunch break to write about something I had on my mind. As with most things on my mind, I lost my thought as soon as I sat down behind this laptop.

There is a lot to ponder in this great big world. There are a lot problems that need to be addressed and handled. There is a lot do in between thinking times. Life moves fast and if you don't slow down once in awhile you'll miss it, as Ferris once said. Only if I could remember why it is I sat down to write in the first place. Only if I could remember what brought me to this page and to this website. Only if I could remember why.

The why matters, right? It matters why a person does something, right? I mean, Hawaii Five-O never ends without McGarrett or Dano asking the villain why. So why have sat down to write here?

Maybe I try to hard.

Will you look at what I did there? I used the wrong "to". It should have been "too" not "to". Maybe I'm trying too hard.

I have that tendency.

I have the tendency to try too hard. I try to be overly poetic, spiritual, prophetic, academic, thoughtful, intelligent, or critical. I have this need to be lifted up. I have this need to be respected, liked, loved, admired, special.

You have that need too, don't you? (See, I used the right "too")

We all have this need to want something from those who are in our lives either physically, emotionally, spiritually, or whatever else "ally".

(Am I using the "" too much?)

We have this desire to be called special by friends and strangers alike. We have this desire to be prophetic and carry the torch of a cause so Jesus will love us more. We have this want and we seek to have it filled however we can.

I want to finish my sermon.

I want to be retweeted.

I want to be shared.

I want to be rid of my want.

Nouwen wrote, "When we start being too impressed by the results of our work, we slowly come to the erroneous conviction that life is one large scoreboard where someone is listing the points to measure our worth."

Perhaps then that is the purpose of Lent: to rid ourselves of our wants, to rid ourselves of the scoreboard.

Hmm...

I just remember what I wanted to write about.

Go figure.

Lenten Journal: The Lantern and the Dark Knight

Two of my favorite heroes, Green Lantern and Batman, are probably the most different superheroes one person could follow. Green Lantern works in the light while Batman prefers the dark. Green Lantern protects the entire space sector of 2814 while Batman watches over Gotham City, ridding the city of crime. Green Lantern is light, Batman is dark. Each one is a part of a universe in desperate need of heroes.

The Lantern understands that his/her light shines out in the dark universe giving hope to all who see the green light. Green Lantern Hal Jordan prefers to shine as a brightly as he can so the evil ones will come to him. Batman hides in the shadows scaring evil into the light. Two heroes: one of light and one of dark. Each one bringing those who do injustice to light. Each one fighting evil in their own way and own style. One of light and one of darkness.

And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.

In darkness, Nicodemus comes to Christ. He brings his questions to him and does not understand the answers. He lurks in the night for fear of being seen by his group, his friends, his social network. He moves through the back alleys and the rooftops and finds his way into a room with the light of the world. The dark and the light meet face to face. Nicodemus wishing to remain in the dark and Jesus telling him the light has come and only the evil prefer the dark.

Nicodemus wants to be a follower of Christ, evident in John 7:51. He likes Jesus and his questions in John 3 lead me to believe he wants to come out and be open of his belief but his questions showcase his fear. For him, it is safer to move about through the dark. It is better for him to wear the cape and cowl instead of basking in the light.

We are not that different than Nicodemus. We desperately want to follow Christ and we desperately want others to follow Christ so we put the flags of John 3:16. We testify to the light of John 3:16 but we deny the lifting up of the light. We deny the light to shine in the darkness because the light shines too brightly. We deny the cross as a way because we fear how bright the light could shine in a weak moment.

We are children of the light hiding in the dark because the light shows us our impurities. We cling to John 3:16 in hopes no one will see our own scars. We love the light of John 3:16. We fear the darkness of John 3:14. We fear what will come to light when we go to the cross. We fear we will not still be loved. The light of John 3:16 is greater than our darkest fear of hell. The lifting of the light of God that came into this world reminds us of God's compassionate unending love.

Lenten Journal: The Foolishness of the Cross

Have you ever done anything that was complete foolishness?

Everyone has, right?

It’s natural to do something foolish and at times almost fun to do. I remember when I was nine, I was at the park with my parents and I naturally went to the swings. I started to swing as high as I could. I was attempting to swing myself completely over but it wasn’t working and my parents called for me that it was time for us to go. I said, “Be right there.”

As I continued to swing my dad supposedly said, “He’s gonna jump.” To which my mom replied, “He’s not that stupid.” But I was. On the back swing, I moved my arms in position and while the swing was at the highest point I jumped, nah, I flew! I stuck a perfect landing, fracturing my right foot. It was wonderful childish foolery.

My parents thought it was foolish of me to do something like that. But I thought, as nine year-olds do, that they were ready to leave and the quicker I got down the quicker we could go. I was simply trying to be helpful; but I do not think jumping off swings 20 feet in the air is what Paul was referring to in his letter to the Corinthians.

Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is complicated. We have the privilege of sitting in on one side of the conversation; therefore, we get to imagine what the other side is saying, which is always fun. Paul is forced to address several issues in this letter. He addresses conflict over divided parties, issues related to sex, food, and worship. The church in Corinth had become divided into four different parties. One group claims to belong to Paul, another to Apollos (who, as Acts 18 tells us, was an eloquent man from Alexandria who was well versed in the Scriptures) another to Cephas (Peter’s Greek name), another to Christ. The church Paul has helped create has become a faction divided church. Each group proclaiming authority over the other. Each one saying they have the right version of the Gospel. Factions, like the ones Paul is addressing, are nothing new for the Church. Our Christian faith is divided beyond Conservative and Moderate. Our Christian faith is divided into spectrums of belief, each one having enough power to prove they are right.

Take those who stress the importance of church growth. If their church is growing beyond measurement, obviously their gospel is correct. Or take those who stress wealth. If their church is wealthy and established in the national spotlight, obviously their gospel is right. Or take the ones who highlight the unbroken line of tradition, giving power to impose truth. Obviously their gospel is right. If we take this example out of church walls, we can see it clearly in our world, specifically in our government. Republicans and Democrats, each proclaiming they have the answer to our economic problems. Each one having enough power to prove they are right. But, as with all the examples, none is advancing the message of Christ.

But Paul tells us that the message of Christ is foolishness specifically, the message of the crucified Christ on the cross is foolishness. To the world and to those who are perishing, the cross is for fools. To them, the cross is weak, feeble, and brings death. But to those, who are being saved, it is the power of God. To those who are being saved, they see strength and life in the cross. With the stroke of a pen, Paul turns their world upside down. With the stroke of a pen, Paul turns our world upside down. God’s foolishness is wiser than our human wisdom. God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Paul is arguing, quite passionately, that our message, the Christian message, is not about power or wisdom. God chose to use the cross as an opportunity to show God’s strength. Paul takes the hardest part of the Christian faith, Christ’s crucifixion and uses it to argue God’s strength. Paul proclaims Christ crucified because it is a stumbling block to those who demand signs or logically proof. Paul uses the death of Christ on the cross as testimony to the power and wisdom of God. What the world sees as foolishness, God sees as wise.

I grew up in the church and I absolutely loved it. I was always fascinated with how the church ran. I never really understood it but I remember going up to the church during the week days and being intrigued by the work the Pastor was doing or what my Youth Minister was doing. I remember once when one of my friend’s parents went up to the church to have a conversation with my youth pastor, David. I asked him what the conversation was about and he told me that he went up there to tell David get his act together and to work harder. It had appeared to my friend’s parents that David was lazy because he spent his time playing games with the youth on the computer or spent time hanging out with us.

In their defense, they understood work to be something that if you put in the hours, if you put in the effort, and worked hard, you would see the benefits at the end of the day. And in their line of work as doctors, they were right. To them, church work was foolish because there was no real outcome of any of the events we did. If none of us ever came forward after camp to make some declaration, some would think that David was not doing his job. They saw what he did foolish because there was no instance measurable growth. Some see the church as a foolish place, a weak place for frail people in need of superstition. But what they see as weak and foolish, God sees as strength and wisdom.

The struggle within our own faith begins at the cross. We struggle with what the world calls foolishness and with what God has called wise. We see the feebleness of the cross and its mortality and we see death. We see killers, thieves, criminals hung from crosses. We see the cross as the ultimate display of power by governments over their citizens. Our faith struggles within itself because we desperately want to be that power. We don’t want to be the ones who are wrong. We want to be right. But the cross shows us something different.

William Willimon writes,

“In this third week of Lent, as the church makes its way with its Lord to the cross, we pause. We stop for a moment to catch our breath and ponder the irony of it all. As the world snickers at the church, we pause with Paul to mock the world.

Along with the world, we expected to see a savior coming to take charge on our terms. Then the parade comes, and we find that we are standing in the wrong place to get a good view. Here comes the carpenter’s son, bouncing on the back of a donkey -- not coming for breakfast with Barrack and Michelle, or lunch with George and Laura, or consultations with Mitt, Rick, Newt or Ron. The smart ones, the ones who are well adjusted to the status quo, the ones in the know, neither see nor know -- so the story goes. Here is a messiah who does not make sense.

Only the very young, the very old, the women and the simpletons see him. They are standing in the right place to get a proper view. Along with the poor, the maimed, the blind, the lame, the prisoners and the poor old crazed men like Paul, these “fools” see things as they really are.”

The truth is, Christ crucified, the cross, knocks us off our pedestals. What used to be true about power and wisdom is no longer correct. None of us can claim absolute truth any longer because of the cross. The cross, Paul writes, is what God chose to shame the strong. God chose what was foolish in their eyes to shame the wise. This crucified Christ, Paul writes about, is the source of our life. This crucified Christ is the real power of God and the wisdom of God.

The world has never really seen the power of the cross. You might say some believers have never really seen the power of the cross. Our education, our stature, our logic, our idea of power doesn’t allow us to fully see the power of the cross. We don’t want to be fools. But four weeks from, we will be asked to be fools once again. We will be asked to jump out of our swings and act like fools by celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Come Easter Sunday, what is weak and foolish in the eyes of the world, will become the instrument God uses to show us what true power and wisdom looks like. May God give us the strength to be weak. May God give us the wisdom to be fools as we preach and live out the message of a Crucified and Risen Messiah.

Amen