|
 |
For me, this began last week when Dave Tomlinson came to deliver the Reynolds Sermon. Most, if not all, who were there, found much that was challenging in what Dave said and also inspiring and encouraging. Coming from a non-Anglican background and with a big experience of the House Church movement, Dave's approach to Christianity is refreshing and exciting.
For me, this same challenge, excitement and refreshment is to be found in the Holy Week pilgrimage. Jesus challenged the norms and traditions of his own religion and offered people something new and life-changing. So convinced was he that this was God's hope and offering to humanity that he was prepared to make the ultimate statement: God loves you, therefore you are of infinite worth and importance is at the heart of the Christian message. Yet we don't always believe it. We think it all depends on us. That's why we might say we aren't very good Christians (something Dave Tomlinson knocked on its head). Jesus, in the holy Week events tells us something entirely opposite. it all depends on god. We all depend on God and God is total Love. So the Cross becomes the absolute statement of that love for us. Jesus said, didn't he, that there is no greater love than for someone to die for their friends. Jesus didn't just talk theology, He showed us what it means and the Cross is that showing.
The Victory of Love over all that is not love in the world and in the cosmic realm is not an historical event but a continuous thing. Christians do not live in the past. They live in the Present Continuous. The Victory of Christ at Calvary is a victory for us NOW. We live in tow times - that of the world (which is called Chronos in Greek - think of chronological) and also in the time of God (called Kairos). We live in time but we are bound for eternity. And what Jesus did for the world on Calvary, he does for us now. And He challenges us to live in the continuous power and victory of His Love. Taking the Holy Week Pilgrimage in tis entirety helps us to understand what all that means. It's a busy week if you enter into fully. So yes, those who say it's the Rector's busy week are right. Actually though it's Jesus who has the busy week. For those who share it with it him, we don't think it's busy, we think it's joyful. It's also life-changing and faith renewing. But you have to find that out for yourself - assuming that you'd like God to change your life and renew your faith of course!
[Top]