Two hawks in my neighborhood have chosen, of all things, the cross at the top of a steeple as their base of operations for preying. No, not praying. Preying.
Whether neighborhood birds or terrorists in Belgium, predators have no qualms about using tools of faith to further violence. On this Friday before Easter, however, we remember that Jesus turned the tables. He used a notorious tool of violence, the cross, to further faith. Jesus prayed from the cross. He prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” That action represented a pattern in Jesus’ life that can give us hope and direction in a world still filled with violence.
Throughout his life Jesus created pockets of forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace. Jesus never brought an end to violence, and he seemed ok with that. Right before his death he said, “it is finished,” as if creating pockets of good in the midst of evil was enough to fulfill God’s purposes.
Through the hindsight of history we can see that it was enough. What he did – even though incomplete – has encouraged and guided people for millennia and transformed the cross from an image of violence and fear to an image of peace and hope.
The Bible promises that one day Jesus will return and bring a final end to violence. Until then we can and should do our best to end violence. But when we fail and violence breaks out, we don’t have to despair. God doesn’t expect more from us than Jesus accomplished. Wherever we can create even small pockets of peace, we further Jesus’ work. I encourage you to look for ways to do this in the coming days.
I also invite you to join me tonight at 7:00 for a special worship service recalling Jesus’ crucifixion and on Sunday at 5:00 pm for our Access Easter celebration!
See you then!
Rich
Rich Rindfuss
Access Pastor
First United Methodist Church Richardson