This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
We are stumbling on our way toward the day of Resurrection, gracious God. Stumbling and falling, sometimes crawling on our knees toward the cross, hoping that when we lift our tear-filled eyes, it will be empty, that the tomb will be empty, that your promise of New Life will indeed be real and we can sing with our hearts and voices:
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
But these recent days have been difficult ones in which to see the reality of Resurrection, filled as they have been with death and destruction. Amid the darkness of Good Friday, we turn to you, Creator God, not as we ought but as we are able, trying to discern our place, our role, in the healing of this hurting world, seeking to be the people you are continually calling us to be, and to find hope and joy and peace, so that we can sing with our hearts and voices:
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
And here, Easter is upon us. The day of Resurrection is here and our newly opened eyes are encouraged by signs of New Life and Hope:
· Malala Yousafzai, born in the Swat Valley, Pakistan, the young woman shot by the Taliban for going to school, being made the youngest ever U.N. Messenger of Peace.
· Amnesty International report that global executions have fallen 37% since 2015, with the USA being removed from the top 5 for the first time since 2006.
· The coastguard of Italy and their rescue of more than 300 migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea on flimsy rubber boats.
· A restaurant in Tripoli, Lebanon offering free meals to the poor and needy, feeding 185 to 200 daily.
· Pope Francis rallying many Roman Catholic leaders to oppose immigration crackdowns throughout the world; and his planned visit to Egypt to meet with the Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II.
Amid the glowing light of truth and new life, the reality of grace and hope for our world, we give thanks, not as we ought but as we are able, opening our hearts and hands, our minds and wills to your leading, Holy One, living in the assurance that in you there is indeed Resurrection and New Life, and so we sing with hearts and voices:
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Let it be so. Amen and amen.