In Memory and In Hope

In the midst of many comings and goings this week, I have also been deep in thought concerning life and death, grace, the logic of the Bible, and Jesus. I tossed and turned Wednesday night, waking up several times trying to put together thoughts on Jesus as light, Jesus as truth, Jesus as the Word, and Jesus as the beginning...thanks to the Gospel of John and anticipated getting together with Xue. I didn't wake up with any conclusions but did draw out a sketch to help me sort through the logic of John 8:31-47, which had been the GBU Bible study and complimented nicely what I was already praying through for Xue. Several items have raised the life/death questions in front of me, and I'm not seeking anything conclusive other than to sit in the mire that sometimes is this life and leap in the joy that is also at times this life.

For some reasons, the following words brought me to tears tonight and I wanted to share them. We remember Martin Luther King, Jr.'s tragic death tomorrow, at the same time rejoicing in his victorious life. We remember others' lives in a similar way. We celebrate those newly given to us as well. And King's words on who is our God and what is the Christian hope press on me in a way that tenderizes my heart and reminds me, no matter the work--be it reconciliation of peoples to peoples, of peoples and persons to God, of speaking truth, of being truth--it will always be the drums of Easter which give any of it meaning.

"I conclude by saying that each of us must keep faith in the future. Let us not despair. Let us realize that as we struggle for justice and freedom, we have cosmic companionship. This is the long faith of the Hebraic-Christian tradition: that God is not some Aristotelian Unmoved Mover who merely contemplates upon himself. He is not merely a self-knowing God, but an other-loving God (Yeah) forever working through history for the establishment of His kingdom.

And those of us who call the name of Jesus Christ find something of an event in our Christian faith that tells us this. There is something in our faith that says to us, "Never despair; never give up; never feel that the cause of righteousness and justice is doomed." There is something in our Christian faith, at the center of it, which says to us that Good Friday may occupy the throne for a day, but ultimately it must give way to the triumphant beat of the drums of Easter. (That's right) There is something in our faith that says evil may so shape events, that Caesar will occupy the palace and Christ the cross (That's right), but one day that same Christ will rise up and split history into a.d. and b.c. (Yes), so that even the life of Caesar must be dated by his name. (Yes)"

For entire speech, click here.

In Memory of Anna Woodiwiss and in the Hope of Caleb Benjamin