John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God
In the Cursillo tradition of Christian renewal Friday nights are always the Passion of Our Lord. During the readings as the nails are driven into the flesh of Jesus there would always be a sharp crack of a hammer on wood. Even though I have heard it many times and read the scripture many times, the chill from those blows of the hammer produce quivers in my soul. My sins helped put Jesus on that Cross. I hear the hammer sound even though in church there are no sound effects. It stills resonates in my heart and soul.
During our Lenten journey we have learned that we are dust, but also, we have a Savior who showed us that human death does not end our existence. We are not condemned to an endless struggle and if we believe in Jesus, we believe in His promise of eternal life and a home in Heaven that He has prepared for us. We must take up our cross and follow Him. He knows the way.
There are so many things that we will never fully understand till we are face to face with Jesus when we get to Heaven. We believe because He said it was true that God sent Jesus to give us eternal life. Nonetheless, we are always saddened by death and knowing that we are also part of the reason He died. We in some ways are part of the crowds that say to crucify Him.
I have friend named Skip who hates Good Friday because he feels the loss of hope that all the apostles and disciples must have felt on Good Friday. That light that was Jesus is out.
Wait!
The story hasn’t been fully written for Jesus or for us. The light we miss will come back to them and to us.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please Pray for Pope Leo XIV. Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for the Holy Land. Pray for peace! The impossible could and can happen. (Saint Rita) Never deny God! Pray for justice for immigrants! Pray for justice for our President and all government officials! Pray for Immigrants! Pray for Peace!
