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Jesus
was moved, often to tears, by the plights of those the world called "losers."
And he provided a caring touch, a healing word, and a loving embrace to
those who would receive it. He consciously chose to enter the pain of
ultimate loss-giving up his body so that resurrection's story could forever
change the way the world experiences change.
But it didn't come easily. Easter Sunday's triumphalism cannot be hailed
without counting the cost of the previous Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Gethsemane and Calvary were excruciating, painful moments for Jesus, for
this followers, and for his family. Equally debilitating were the subsequent
days of seeming defeat when his body lay in a borrowed tomb. "Pain
is a tragedy. But it's never only a tragedy. For the Christian, it's always
a necessary mile on the long journey to joy" (Larry Crabb in Shattered
Dreams).
For today, the truth is every worshiper in a church assembly is dealing
with loss on some level. And every worshiper needs to hear that the Bible
is far from silent on this issue. In fact, it is highly significant to
acknowledge that the Christian faith's central symbol is the juxtaposition
of a cross and an empty grave.
Of all entities, the church as a corporate body must claim its healing
role in letting its members acknowledge the intense pain of losing precious
treasures, of feeling disappointment with God not responding to our hopes,
dreams, and felt needs. The church must proclaim that the tumult of dealing
with loss is not the same as being unfaithful but is, in fact, faithfulness.
Loss and its accompanying grief is a theme of people of faith. Our vocation
includes leaving, letting go, joining others going through loss, and calling
out to God. We are called as Christians to enter, not avoid, the realm
of pain and loss. And we can be certain that the God who knows loss continues
to mold us, joining us as a faithful companion on our spiritual journey.
VIRGIL FRY
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