Greetings to all;
As I write this there is much happening in our world.
- Japan is gasping with grief as they continue to struggle for life after the disasters of March 11th. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami has left 12,157 people dead and 15,496 others unaccounted for so far with millions of dollars of damage.
- Eman al-Obeidy, the woman who burst into a Tripoli hotel to tell journalists she was beaten and raped by forces loyal to Libyan leader Gadhafi last month, was dragged off to prison, brutalized and accused of being drunk, insane or involved in prostitution. She is given no rights or respect as a human being and lives under the threat of murder. Her attackers remain free.
- It is estimated that 10.9% of all South Africans have HIV/AIDS. Hundreds of children are left without parents and scrape out a dangerous existence in poverty.
- Desperate parents have sold young children into the sex trade or slavery in order to afford raising the rest of their family.
- We watch as Global warming shrinks the North Pole and threatens the lives of polar bears and other animals. The melted ice could change the landscape of the planet.
Wow! So much is happening. And much of it is the sad news of what can happen when human kind continues to live by the love of power instead of by the power of love.
At Easter we witness again the tragedy that the love of power can cause. The authorities of the day crucified a man of love because they recognized him as a threat to their way of life. Jesus died on Good Friday. It made no more sense at that time then the tragedies I have mentioned above make to us today. But it happened.
The miraculous part of this story is witnessed on Easter Sunday. Those who helplessly stood by and watched the murder of their beloved Jesus shared a joy which healed the pains of yesterday and raised the hope for tomorrow. They witnessed the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Resurrection. As disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, we study our position in this life and discover a way to become part of the resurrection power. This is our goal as Christians who walk the path of Lent again this year. May we feel the depth of despair on that tragic and senseless Friday and move with determined purpose into the hope of resurrection on that wonderful Easter morn. Steeped in the hope of Christ¹s resurrection, we can make a difference in this great-created world.
This is our prayer, amid the pains of injustice and helplessness, grief and greed, may we witness the phoenix of resurrection. Out of the ashes of global warming, discrimination and disease, may we be part of the glory of Holy hope.
With you in prayers and possibilities,
Rev. Dr. Heather Froats