Good Friday 2013
Grace, peace, mercy, and love from God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit
“There is so much to tell yet my heart is heavy!” I am convinced that’s how Jesus’ disciples felt in the time between his crucifixion and his resurrection. It is difficult for us, on this side of that first Easter, to imagine the emotions the disciples must have felt: sadness, certainly; regret, undoubtedly; fear, absolutely! The more I read and reflect on the last 24 hours of Jesus’ earthly life, the more I am convinced that John, the only male at the foot of the cross, was not yet at the age of accountability. The other disciples were more than likely in hiding because they undoubtedly thought they were next! They, like so many other “revolutionaries,” would experience the same fate as their leader: crucifixion!
Yet, we who are on this side of that first Easter, look past the sadness, probably cannot relate to the regret, and, living in the United States, cannot imagine the fear. We look to the hope and the excitement of the resurrection. God’s love for all creation demonstrated in a very powerful way! What an incredible gift! Thank you Lord!
Isn’t that what a Via de Cristo weekend experience allows? A time to reflect. A time of joy. A time to rekindle hope. A Via de Crusto weekend is a time to once again experience the joy and excitement of the resurrection. A joy that stems from God’s love, tangibly demonstrated, and a renewed confidence that we serve a risen Lord.
A question for us to ponder – a topic for reflection: What emotions do I (we) experience when I wake in the morning? What emotions do I (we) experience when I (we) leave my (our) Reunion Group? What emotions do I (we) experience when I (we) leave an Ultreya?
I find my journey oscillates between hope / joy / peace and sadness / regret / fear. Thank you Lord for the brothers and sisters you place in my life to encourage me on the journey. Thank you Lord for being there with me…for experiencing events and feelings with me. Thank you Lord for loving me no matter where I am!
May God continue to give us much to tell and a hopeful presence.
In Christ –
Ed
Eric is our current Webmaster and works on the NLS Communications Team. Raised in Judaism, he found Christ and the New Testament at age 16 in a Southern Baptist Church. He searched many denominations for the real church, only to find the Holy Spirit is present in all of them. He's worked for One for Israel, a group of native Israeli believers who are sharing the gospel in the holy land in Hebrew and is part of the only Hebrew speaking seminary in Israel.
