Saturday, April 4, 2015
A Reflection on Forgiveness from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
I recall this image from my home congregation: A banner depicting Mary and Jesus in the
manger and the backlit silhouette of the cross cast over this scene. It was jarring. The cross on Christmas? I didn’t like it.
We are filled with wistful longing.
But what are we longing for? We
long for peace, love and a place to belong.
We want to know that someone cares.
The hope of Christmas was fulfilled on Good Friday. The cross is part of Christmas. “Nails, spear shall pierce him through, the
cross be borne for me, for you” (What Child Is This). The cross is the Christmas gift, where
all of our Christmas glorias are realized in Jesus’ glorification on the cross.
We
don’t have to get everything completely right.
We can’t. That’s God’s work and
it has been done.
We are forgiven and given new life.
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