On the day of Jesus’ baptism, a schism opened in the
heavens and a voice came to Jesus,
“You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
On the first Friday of Jesus’ ministry, he entered the
synagogue, the world of Jewish men, and cast out an unclean spirit. They said
of him, “What
is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits,
and they obey him!” He then crossed the street, entered a home, the world of
Jewish women, and lifted up a woman sick with a fever. As the Sabbath ended,
the whole city gathered at his door.
At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus couldn’t have been
alone if he tried. Everyone wanted him. Then he crossed every boundary and
entered every forbidden realm imaginable: sickness, religion, law, nature,
gender, age, profession, ethnicity, geography. He has healed everyone and he
has done all things well.
Now, on the last Friday of his ministry, he is tried,
convicted, whipped, and crucified.
He dies, despised by everyone.
Now a new schism opens. The seventy-foot-high curtain in the
Temple, separating the outer courtyard from the Holy of Holies where the ark of
the covenant containing the stone tablets of the ten commandments is stored,
rips from high in the air all the way to the ground, never to be mended again.
As the Sabbath begins today, instead of being surrounded by
friends and people clamoring for his gifts and attention, Jesus is alone in a tomb.
But he is not finished.
He is still crossing boundaries and entering forbidden
realms. This time, he enters the heart of the empire. He enters the seat of
power that keeps every citizen in his or her place. He enters the places the
empire uses as a threat to everyone who might think of stepping out of line. He
enters intimidation, trial, shame, torture, fear, and death itself.
While the world rests, he is at work.
Text for the day:
Things to think
about:
Love and healing shatter barriers and boundaries.
Things to do:
Find something in common with everyone you meet.
Jesus,
although we have done the worst, continue to do your best.
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