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Second Chances

We all need second chances. We rise. We fall. We hopefully rise again.

Today is the ultimate day of second chances. Although we are sinful, Jesus died on the cross for us, to redeem us and give us a second chance:

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

1 Peter 2:21-25

How many times do I let the insult, misstep, or even simple misunderstanding of someone else drive a wedge between us? Or worse, result in me returning the insult or misdeed. Turning the other cheek is hard. Forgiveness is even harder. But, oh how I want that forgiveness when I misstep! Oh, how I want that second chance, that do-over, that mulligan for my own failings.

Jesus endured betrayal and rejection from his friends. He endured being arrested and bound. He endured the rejection of the crowd (and “public opinion”). He endured their shouts to crucify him. He endured being scourged. He endured the soldiers mocking him, stripping him of his clothes and human dignity. He endured them spitting on him. He endured thorns piercing into his scalp and the soldiers striking his head. And he endured hours on the cross, nails driven through his flesh, hanging there to die, while others continued to taunt and mock. All for you. All for me. All to give us a second chance. To repair the damage that our sin caused. To ransom us, redeem us and return us to the One who created us, the One who loves us so much, that He sent his only Son — so that we would know Him and willingly return to Him.

It is a day for second chances.

Lord,

Forgive me for my sins. Forgive me for turning away from you, for focusing on things of this world more than the next. I am truly sorry. I am sorry that things I have done and things I have failed to do, hurt you and hurt others whom you love. Thank you for giving me a second chance (and a third, fourth, fifth and sixth….). I desire to do better. I desire to sin no more. I desire not to go astray. Please forgive me. Please continue to lead me. I love you, Lord. I am thankful, grateful and humbled by your sacrifice and love for me. Help me to serve you and your world better. Help me to forgive others who hurt me. Help me help others always know the second chance that you provide.

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Father, Forgive Me

Holy Saturday. My contemplative day. The day of limbo. The day of reflection, of sadness. The world has just finished murdering Jesus. He has not yet risen. The day that he is absent from the world because of the world. The day I wonder whether He is absent from me because of me.

It is easy to read the story of the crucifixion and blame those involved. How could Judas who walked with Jesus betray him? How could Pontius Pilate, who knew it was wrong, allow it to happen? How could Peter, who Jesus chose to build His church upon, who had followed Jesus for three years, deny Him? How could the people choose a murderer over Jesus? How could the soldiers and people along the way mock Him and chant things like: “he saved others; he cannot save himself.” “Let him come down from the cross now and we will believe in him.” “He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he wants him.”

I used to look down on all of these folks. I would surely do better. I would not be so stupid. And yet the story of the crucifixion is the story of all of our sins.

Judas knew Jesus for three years, I have known Him my whole life. And yet, I too choose silver, screens, and other earthly “treasures” over Jesus at times (more times than I would like to admit). I too provide lip service at times, providing a kiss in public, but betraying Jesus behind closed doors.

Father, forgive me. I wish I could say I know not what I do, but sometimes I do and I do it anyway. Father, forgive me. I do not want a world without you. I do not want my life without you.

Pilate knew that crucifying Jesus was wrong, but he didn’t want to get involved. He didn’t want to go against the crowd. If I had the power to save Jesus from the pain and torture, would I have? I would like to think so, and yet my sin contributes to His pain. I, too, have followed the crowd. I have decided not to get involved when I knew wrong was occurring, because it was easier for me.

Father, forgive me. I wish I could say I know not what I do, but sometimes I do and I do it anyway. Father, forgive me. I do not want a world without you. I do not want my life without you.

What I wouldn’t give to be Peter. To be able to sit with Jesus, talk with Jesus, learn from Jesus, embrace Jesus. He had it all! And yet he denied Him three times. I always blame Peter the most. Maybe that is why I sometimes struggle with the Church, with the priests and bishops, who have it all and still seem to turn so far away. Surely, I will not deny Jesus. Though others may have their faith shaken, mine will never be… And yet… it is. Peter had three years. I have had my entire life. Peter may have been with Jesus in the flesh. But I have weekly and daily communion available to me. Peter did not know or understand the resurrection. I know about the resurrection. I know the Truth. I can read the written gospels and have the benefit of two thousand years of church teaching. Why do I still deny? Why do I still hide my faith? Peter was afraid. Despite all that I know, I too am sometimes afraid, even though Jesus tells me not to be. Even though I know everything on earth is temporary, even though I know that if I have faith, I have nothing to fear.

Father, forgive me. I wish I could say I know not what I do, but sometimes I do and I do it anyway. Father, forgive me. I do not want a world without you. I do not want my life without you.

I am no different from the villains in Jesus’ story. I have betrayed Him, ignored Him, denied Him and turned my back on Him. I have mocked or doubted and I have been afraid. I may not physically nail Him to a cross, but my sins are just as painful. My rejection of His love is just as hurtful as those mocking him on the road. Father, forgive me!

I know it is easy to be remorseful as we are painfully reminded of the Lord’s crucifixion on Good Friday and as we sit today and are assured of the resurrection tomorrow.

Lord, help my heart and mind and spirit be resurrected this Easter. I want to always turn to you. Help me turn away from silver and the fake “treasures” that this world tries to offer. Help me to be strong in my faith. Help me not be turned by the will of the crowd. Help me to lead, not to follow. Help me to share your love and your word. As I look around, I see a world that is run by fear. I know that when I am focused on you, I have no fear. When my faith is strong, I have no fear. Lord, I know that in your hands, I am safe. I know that safe does not mean free from suffering, but that there is a resurrection promised. Lord, give me the strength and faith that I need. I do not want to turn away any more. I don’t want to contribute any further nails, I don’t want to be distracted by silver, I don’t want to live by fear and have my faith shaken. I know that I cannot promise, like Peter tried, that my faith won’t be shaken. I know that I am not strong enough to overcome fear on my own. And I know that I am a sinner and will continue to cause you pain. But I know that Your love is stronger than all things, including nails, silver and fear. Help me Father to always turn to you, to always return to you. Help me to remember you passion for me every day not just during the Easter season. Help me to follow you and not the crowd. Help me to love, as you do. Forgive me when I fail.

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Good Friday

As a child I never understood why we called the day Jesus died “Good.”  Today it makes sense.  Today Jesus laid down His life for us.  As He said in John: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  Today is all about God’s love for us.  And also the reminder for us, that death is not the end.  Our loved ones who have died, still live.  We will see them again.

Today the Bible opened to Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians:

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep.  Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore, console one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

It truly is a good day.  What might seem like a terrible day to those without faith or hope —  what may seem terrible here on earth —  can be the most beautiful thing — can have a greater purpose.  Because we have faith and hope, we need not grieve like the rest.  Our God is stronger!  As I am typing the words to Chris Tomlin’s song “Our God” are singing through my head — rejoicing through my body:

“Into the darkness you shine, out of the ashes we rise there’s no one like you, none like You!
Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!

And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against?”