Good Friday Post

Doctor Bob has a Good Friday post worth your time.

We, the Easter People, tend to take too much for granted. Comfortable as we are in our smug beliefs we have an impulse flee from the mysteries that lie at the core of our Christian heritage. Confronted with the unknown, the unprovable, we would rather curl up with reason and slam he door in the face of irrational expectations, even when they can be found in scripture.

We proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again.

But as we proclaim it, how many want to embrace it? Too few, I suspect. Because if we really believe that mystery we are also bound to pay attention to His commands and examples. It's one thing to go through the motions in a weekly ritual.

But to return to the world with the message of that ritual manifest in daily living is a serious challenge. In order to do so we must be willing to confront evil with good. That is a very difficult assignment. It requires that we somehow become super-human, supernaturally forcing ourselves to love the unlovable, cherish and appreciate the lowest among us and forgive, through clenched teeth if necessary, the unforgivable.

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even "sinners" love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even "sinners" do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even "sinners" lend to "sinners," expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Luke 6: 32-38

His words, not mine.
I report, you decide.