Dearly Beloved,
Grace and Peace to you.
This is my Son, the Beloved;
with him I am well pleased;
listen to him!
—Matthew 17.5
Jesus shows us the way of the cross,
but we back away.
We’re afraid of the loss and pain,
the sacrifice, the many forms of death
involved in the way of radical self-giving.
Just earlier Jesus said, “I’m going to my death.”
Of course Peter, our blabbermouth, objected.
But God says: Don’t worry. Look at Jesus,
with all the trustworthiness of scripture
and the hardiness of Moses and Elijah,
and shining with the light of resurrection
already radiating in him— isn’t he OK?
The way of the cross, of love amidst fear,
of entering the suffering of the world,
of confronting injustice at great cost,
this way will take you through dark places—
but look at the light with which you’ll shine.
Through all your suffering there is beauty.
Even though you go through death
you will burn with a heavenly light,
the light of my love for you,
the light of the rising dawn of Easter
already in you.
You won’t understand this
until after you’ve seen resurrection,
but I’m letting you know before hand.
Eventually you’ll know: Jesus seems crazy,
his way objectionable, his teaching absurd—
but it will light your way through the night.
Listen to him.
Deep Blessings,
Pastor Steve
__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net
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