Grace and peace;
There is no denying that the Gospel readings that are part of the Daily Office cycle are a challenge this week; they are the readings that we normally associate with the Passion of our Lord. On Monday Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, he was betrayed on Tuesday, and faced the high priest on Wednesday. Thursday Peter will deny him three times, Judas repents and hangs himself on Friday, and finally on Saturday the crowd calls for Jesus to be crucified.
Thankfully the readings shift focus on Sunday and we do not witness the crucifixion. Regardless, it is a shock to the emotions to live through even this portion of the Passion outside of the time of Lent and Holy Week. I was not prepared for these readings in the middle of summer as I might be prepared during a time of Lenten reflections, and perhaps that was the point of those who planned the Daily Office lectionary pattern - to keep us off guard.
We don't know the day or the hour when the watchman will come. We don't know when someone will rise up to crucify Christ, we don't know when the next terrorist attack will occur.
Until then it is for us to live our lives fully in the knowledge and love of Christ. To do any less is to succumb to the terrorists and the fear that they cultivate. This time of year I enjoy many hours watching and reading about a bike race in France; but then Le Tour de France is not just any bike race. The last time that Le Tour did not race through the country side of France was during World War II. Even the horrific events in Nice last week did not stop Le Tour, the organizers did not want to succumb to the terrorists' fear; though during the three day mourning period the post race celebrations took on a different tone, a somber reflection fitting the mood of the country.
Only light can drive out darkness, only love can drive out hate, only joy can drive out fear. We find light, love, and joy in Christ Jesus. In our communities we can come together for celebration or somber reflection; in different voices both celebration and somber reflection speak of light, love, and joy.
In these uncertain times we can rest in the knowledge "that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom 8:38-39).
It is in that knowledge that we can continue on like the bike racers of Le Tour who continued to climb mountains despite wind, rain, or terrorist. I pray that terrorists won't strike again, but that is not likely, so I pray that we when we are caught off guard by troubling events we can all rest in the embrace of our Lord and the knowledge of God's unfailing love.
Peace
Henry+
