Pr. Margaret Schoewe - April 1

Week 7 - John 13:21-32Wednesday, April 1, 2015
A Reflection on Forgiveness from Pr. Margaret Schoewe

The Wednesday before Maundy Thursday is a strange day.  Our Lenten services are over leading us to believe that this is an ordinary day.  And yet it’s anything but ordinary.  This day, formerly called “Spy Wednesday” refers to John’s gospel text in which Judas is identified as the betrayer of Jesus.  Following Jesus identification of Judas we are told, “…immediately he went out.  And it was night.”

In many ways it could not have been anytime other than night.  Imagine Judas, knowing he is about to betray Jesus, having no part of the hope of the resurrection, knowing only that he is betraying his best friend – probably all of his best friends.  How heavy and dark he must have felt.

And it was night for the disciples.  While they probably didn’t know just what was to come, they knew that things weren’t good between Jesus and those in power.  Yes, they had seen Jesus work many miracles including bringing life out of darkness – yet they could not have imagined the power of the resurrection.

In contrast we know by faith the amazing power of the resurrection.  We know the darkness of the cross was followed by light and life outside of the tomb.  We know that Jesus died so that the world might not go on in darkness.  And we know that when we allow ourselves to truly believe that in Christ we are forgiven, we are set free to enter into new ways of light and life. 

As we enter into the darkness of the day before the three days of Easter, we can be hopeful because we know the power of the light to come.

“Spy Wednesday” is, in many ways like the day before any difficult situation, the day before surgery, the day before starting a new job, the day before breaking off a marriage or the day before leaving on a big trip.  We don’t know the outcome but we can walk in hope, holding to the image of the risen Christ knowing that God is with us, loving us and working to bring us to new life and for this, we give thanks.

Loving God, we face so many struggles – relationships, health, finances, and fear that we are not loved.  We sin and cannot find peace.  Help us in the darkest places of our lives to turn to you, to find the bits of light that shine like stars in the darkness leading us to new life.  Give us faith to trust that you will lead us from darkness into light.