Palm/ Passion (C) + To Die For + 4.9.22

 

M. Campbell-Langdell

All Santos Oxnard

(St. Luke 19:28–40; Ps. 118:1–2, 19–29; Isaiah 50:4–9ª; Ps. 31:9–16; Phil. 2:5–11; St Luke 22:14–23:56)

 

The other day, a member of our church asked me a question. He pointed out that some Christian traditions focus more on Jesus’ sacrifice on Good Friday, whilst others focus on the resurrection of Jesus and are more Easter-themed. He wondered where our tradition fit in that mix. And I answered somewhat glibly that to know the tendency of a church, you simply have to look at the cross in the church. Is it empty or full? And if full, is Jesus suffering and dying or triumphant, already resurrected? While this is not always true, many more Protestant churches, what some people call “Christian” churches although we are all Christian who follow Christ, have an empty cross, focusing on the fact that Jesus resurrected from the dead. Many Catholic-leaning churches, including many in the Orthodox fold because they basically come from the same stock, have crucifixes, or Crosses upon which we gaze at our Suffering Servant Lord. And as is our wont, many Anglican churches fall somewhere in between.
However, our Episcopal Church often leans more heavily in recent years on a focus of being an Easter people. We identify as followers of the Risen Lord. And that is a hopeful space to be in. We follow a God who conquered death! We are not of this world and don’t need to be tied to the sufferings of this world.

That all being said, there is a benefit to focusing on Good Friday. Skipping over suffering sometimes makes us forget that life is full of suffering. And while we are bound for a better kingdom, we are still residents of this here and now. At the Lenten Caravan this past Wednesday we heard a song that said “You thought I was to die for… and you sacrificed your life.” In this we were reminded of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. In Luke this is so clearly a conscious sacrifice on Jesus’ part of his own life. While he is captured, tortured and killed, he nonetheless has agency in every action along the way, including the moment when he gives up his spirit. This, to the stoic leaning Greeks, was proof that he was right or righteous. He had more than human control.
God chose to walk among us, to suffer and to die. God knew all the mess of humanity and the cruelties that come with life on Planet Earth. And God in Jesus came to dwell amongst us. And didn’t just find an exit, but saw that time through.

Remembering Jesus’ suffering and death, as is the important work of this week to come, reminds us that no matter what comes before us on our life’s journey, God has been there before. God has prepared the way for us. God thought we were to die for. Jesus suffered for us. But I don’t share this, as some do with Good Friday theology to guilt us into following Jesus. No, I think we must be overcome by God’s love for us. And we must remember that no matter what befalls us, it is not because it is our fault or because God wants us to suffer. We may not know why it is happening, but we know Jesus did not have an easy road either, and it was not Jesus’ fault either. And so that beautiful Resurrected Christ is also the wounded brother who walks the road with us. Who will not let us suffer alone. Even on the cross, Jesus had company. Today, you will be with me in Paradise!

Let us also remember that on the cross Jesus did see the faith of one of those criminals. St. Dismas is the other patron saint of my feast day, the Day of the Annunciation. And what a saint. Who knows what he did to get him there, something bad, surely. But Jesus saw beyond all that, and saw his faith. And welcomed him.

We may be an Easter people but in our Book of Common Prayer we have prayers for mission in our Morning Prayer service. One of them says: “Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name.”

Jesus’ sacrifice is not just to impress us into faith nor to let us feel accompanied, but ultimately it is about telling everyone the good news. He thought you were worth dying for- tell another. That Christ died for all, in the name of love. As you hear our Lord’s Passion again, look for reminders of his love for you.

Amen.