Friday, February 27, 2015

"And victory remains with love"

Crucifixion, by Matthias Grünewald, from the Isenheim altar piece, 1510-1515

It's a Friday in Lent. On days like this, words ought to fail us. The failure of our own words, of our ability to comprehend and articulate the greatness, the height, length, and depth of love of God's great love for us should drive us to God's word:
For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath (Rom 5:6-9)
Our Friday traditio is Jars of Clay with a wonderful hymn:



O break, O break hard heart of mine
My weak self-love and guilty pride
His Pilate and His Judas were
Jesus our Lord is Crucified


If all of this seems crude and terribly unsophisticated, even from a theological perspective, I would strongly urge you to lean into Lent much harder.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Readings: Daniel 13:1-9.15-1719-30.33-62; Psalm 23:1-6; John 8:1-11 Whenever I hear Jesus’ encounter with the woman caught in adultery, m...