Hope

“He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 

but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel." --Luke 24:19b-21

There are a lot of people these days who will (almost eagerly) tell you that Christianity is a dead faith.

They will tell you Christians have forgotten what Jesus really stood for, and say that just about any way is better than that Way.

Some are friends who have been badly wounded by the church; others, I believe, are people who are simply parroting others and have, for whatever reason, lost hope. Misery loves company. 

Like the two on the road to Emmaus who were expecting a different kind of King than the one they got. Who never even realized Jesus was walking right along with them. Not, that is, until they shared a meal together-- and their eyes were opened.

Here's what I think-- and what I believe:

Diana Butler Bass, in this article Being With God, A Different Holy Week (for Huffington Post), writes of the huge difference a preposition can make, the difference between Jesus being with us and Jesus dying for us. 

And I believe that just may hold a key to where we as followers of the Christ have gotten off-track.

During his life, Jesus was with the poor, the broken, the outcast. He offered them love and life-- and hope. (And don't forget, when Jesus is with us, we are with Jesus.) True, the gospels recount the many things Jesus did for others, but he did them by being right there, in the dark and in the dirt with them.

Then all at once (in our contemporary world), after his death on the cross, our rallying cry changes and we hear about what Jesus did for us. Jesus died a pain-filled, horrifying death-- for us. So we could again enter into oneness with the Creator.

All true.

But here is a critical point we often pass right by (probably because it really hurts to think about this):

Just as Jesus was with others during his lifetime, so, too, were they with him, even as he died for them.

Many wished they were not. Peter denied Jesus outright, not once, but three times, to save his own neck. But never, I believe, did Peter think to himself, "Well-- thanks, Jesus, for dying in my stead so I can go on living my life, just the way I want to!"

And at some point, I believe, Peter came to understand that when Jesus said, "I will be with you always," he meant that.

And we are called to be with Jesus. And that means setting aside our self, being prepared to spend time with the least of these, the marginalized. 

And it means being willing to give of ourselves till it hurts, being willing to die at least a little death for another-- just because we are called to live lives of love. Not just for the attractive or the ones who smell good, but for those and the ones who are more challenging to love (which, many days, includes moi).

Perhaps Christianity is dead. Maybe these prophetic voices are on to something. 

But Jesus was dead, too. After being scourged and beaten, derided, ridiculed and nailed to a cross, Jesus, with a loud gasp, gave up his spirit and breathed his last.

That was Friday.

And then came Sunday. The tomb was empty, the Lord had risen-- and those who believed came to understand, intimately, that Jesus was still with them!

They had hoped-- and now, suddenly, they had Hope. 

And so do we. Because the story did not end on the day we have come to call Good Friday. There is more to the story. And because God is still speaking, still at work in this place, we are called to continue to live this story. We are called to live with Jesus and bring his love in real, tangible ways to those who are feeling very much alone and marginalized.

Blessed Easter, friends. Do me a favor in the week ahead and share a meal with someone. Or buy a coffee or a Blizzard or a gallon of milk for the person in line behind you-- just because they are there. Hold the door for someone-- with a smile-- just because they are with you on this planet, in this moment.

Go and serve. Live in a Sunday state of mind. Have hope. Offer hope. Live hope. 

Jesus is alive and well, and living among us. With you, with me-- with them. 

Alleluia!