"It is finished." Easter morning has come and gone. You can all go home now and not worry about Lent, or spending time thinking about your faith, or finding time to make it to the extra Lent/Easter spiritual growth opportunities at the church. Whoa! It went by quick this year. Thank goodness Easter was early. Now we can all relax while we watch our Easer Lily slowly fade away until it meets the backyard compost pile. Do you feel a certain relief that the season is over? It is nice to know that it is finished. When I hear these words I think of what my cousin Jane would say, "It stirs me up, and not in a good way!"
It is finished! Even Christ said it! How could he give up so easily and not care about Saturday? Sunday? Monday? Tuesday? The rest of the days of the world? What did he think was going to happen to the church? His disciples? His message? Did he not have any plans for the rest of us? Was it all suppose to end with "it is finished"??? Wait a minute! I must slow down. I think, like Cousin Jane, I am getting a little too stirred up.
Yes, Christ did say these words as he died on the cross. However, he did not declare that his ministry, his hope, his love, his grace was gone, but that his process of dying had now reached its end. This is a powerful statement, for we know that from that moment on a new creation was being formed. A chrysalis was starting to weave itself around him, a shroud, a cold tomb, death, and the deep, harmonic Voice of creation began to sing a new song in the body of Christ. This was the voice that nurtures, heals, awakens, and calls us to become new. The Voice was breathing new life into Christ and healing his broken body.
"It is finished," perhaps, but really it had only just begun. God stirred within Christ, and in a good way, for the ministry was not to end. God split the chrysalis open, and inside there was nothing, for the living Christ was already at work in the Word. The living Christ was calling people to faith, sharing his love and expressing his grace to all who would hear and know. His work continued! His ministry was not finished! Yes, this is what should be stirring us and in a Good way!
God is stirring within you now! I know it. There is a calling to each and every one of you to share the good news of Jesus Christ to the world. By teaching our children at Westminster, sharing Christ's hope at Vacation Bible School, telling the story in Mexico with our brothers and sisters to the community in Cancun, and extending grace to those in need at the Dubuque Rescue Mission! And, it is in so much more that you, yes you, are being called to this very day.
It is not finished. Easter is here, eternally reminding us that God is working in our lives. In turn we take action as people who embody the Easter morning message every day of our lives. He is risen! Let us share this with the world and witness where God is creating a sir among His people. I am stirred up, and it's in a good way!
PAX,
GHF
