by Lynell Caudillo
Are you ever surprised by a new perspective on something familiar—so much so that it takes your breath away or makes you do a mental double-take? Sometimes we people of faith become so familiar with the sacred, that it becomes ‘old hat’. Like a comfortable pair of shoes that fit us well, we begin to take the sacred for granted. We are no longer amazed when angels appear and speak, nor when they serenade smelly shepherds on a starlit hillside. We have listened to Jesus’ parables so often, we can recite the punch line. We think we know, what we know…! Then something happens that reminds us of the serendipity of faith—and we are “surprised by joy” (C. S. Lewis). Our faith is refreshed and we gain new perspective on the “old, old story”.
I had such an experience about a year ago during Lent. Our Good Friday worship service with Southminster Presbyterian Church was good—“the usual”—both choirs sang of God’s sacrificial love, the scriptures concerning the last week of Jesus’ earthly life were read, and candles were extinguished until only one remained. Worshippers were invited to gather around the crosses at the front of the sanctuary as we sang a capella, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?”, stopping before the last verse, “Were you there when He rose up from the grave?”. Silently we exited the sanctuary, following Pastor Ben Lindstrom as he carried the last lit candle. It was meaningful, but “business as usual”, until the next morning when I picked up two eight year old twin girls and their mom for the community Easter egg hunt at Marcus Whitman.
Stephanie and Victoria were excited but subdued.
“Pastor Lynell! We cried last night because people treated Jesus so bad and we are so sad because he died", exclaimed Stephanie.
“But Jesus died for our sins”, Victoria added soberly, “and we have to wait ‘til tomorrow for Jesus to be alive again.”
“How does God DO that?”, questioned Stephanie.
(Their mom gave me a look that said—Yeah, tell us Pastor!!!)
My reply?
“I know two things for sure. One, it is a mystery. And two, God’s love is so great and so strong and so powerful that it can overcome all the sin and all the evil in our world in order to make Jesus alive again.”
“Wow, that is really good!” said Victoria.
“Yes, that is why we call it GOOD NEWS!!” I replied.
How refreshing to see, hear, and experience the “old, old story” as if for the first time! What grace there is in this Good News! May we be listening with new ears, looking and seeing with new eyes, especially as we look for the Unseen Christ throughout this season
Pastor Lynell