Greetings
Dear Reader,
The shadows
of night are where the suffering begins for Christ. He presides over the Passover meal where his friends
falsely profess their loyalty. He goes
to the garden to pray. He finds there
great grief and pain before the lash, the first, or the cross touch him. His friends fall asleep, he bleeds from his
pours, and a friend hands him over to the soldiers.
God sends
angels to comfort him but it must have reminded Christ of the deep darkness to
come. How many slept whilst God was
betrayed and beaten. We talk about Judas’
betrayal. Do we consider that everyone
fled from his side that night? Even as
he was arrested he showed mercy to his captors.
Just a few
days ago Jesus rode into town in full daylight. Lauded as Hosanna the King of Kings he came
to Jerusalem. Now the night has come and
evil men seek his life. Because he is willing they shall have it. The darkness gathers and descends on an
ancient world. In that darkness is
promise. In that darkness is
communion. In that deep dark death is
our chance to live.
There is no
story, movie, or song more compelling.
On the wings of that darkness on that night flies the hope of all
mankind. The Light of the World will be extinguished
for a moment so that he may rekindle in us.
My darkness causes this. My
nightmares draw the chariot that compels him to death. My kiss betrays him. My fists tear out his beard and punch his
face. My hands twist the crown of thorns
and force it on his head. My hand wields
the lash, the hammer, and the spear.
It is me in
the crowd jeering at him. It is me
standing far off denying that I know him.
It is my voice that threatens Pilate if he does not crucify this
man. It is my hands that are washed of
the matter. It is my sin that puts him
on the cross. I am the one who makes it
necessary for the Lord of Light to journey into darkness because he does so to
rescue me.
How dare I
ever question his love for me. I dare I ever abandon following with all my
heart for even a moment. Sunday cannot
come too quickly.
And we plead and we pray
For a glimmer of day
As the night folds its wings and descends –
Dan Fogelberg.
Wishing you
joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
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