“We remember…”
We remember the night in which Jesus was betrayed.
We remember the day he was nailed to the cross.
We remember the day he defeated death – forever.
We remember, but we struggle.
We struggle because we treat our remembrance as a thing that happened “once upon a time,” rather than as an event that we face daily – a challenge to live differently.
Jesus is still betrayed by us – when we walk our own path rather than the one God would have us walk. It’s not about our rightness or our choices; it’s about God’s faithfulness and presence with us.
His recognition of our imperfection, but his love for us in our confusion and failure. Jesus is betrayed as we look at his children, at him, and see something less than worthy of love and grace and friendship.
Jesus is still crucified by us – when we choose to leave the relationship in pursuit of our comfort, our security, or our control.
Our lives are meant to reflect God’s grace and love and service, shown to us as Jesus walks the way of a servant all the way to the cross – to death. For you.
But we get it in our heads that we know better, or that we somehow understand more deeply, and we put aside Jesus’ call.
Jesus is still defeating death for us – when we are confused, or lost, or wandering, when we’re suffering illness, or grief, or loss, Jesus is with us and for us.
God knows we struggle – and our struggle comes one of two ways: 1) in our confusion and doubt, and 2) in our self-righteousness and piety. Either we fail to rely on God or we are too self-satisfied and content. In turns out that in both of these failings we walk away from God, but God does not, will not, walk away from us.
When we bring our worst, God brings God’s best. When we offer our struggle, God leads us home.
When we offer our sins, God grants forgiveness.
When we offer death, God brings life.
We remember…that when we can’t, God does.
We remember.
And thank God.
