“That love, expressed in forgiveness on the Cross, is the heart of ‘atonement.’ Jesus’ life and death were above all a witness, there for us each day, each hour, showing the cost of pride, of arrogance, and greed.”
Post-temple Jews continued to gather in synagogues, but I have always been fascinated by the way the primary altar of Judaism shifted to each and every home. Think of it, Christians: the high holy day of Passover is celebrated in the home! I often joked with clergy colleagues, “What if we told our people that there would be no Christmas or Easter services at church? What if we told them to celebrate at an altar in their own homes? They would run us out on a rail.”
“While I did not expect love to be the overriding emotion this past week, surely enough it was. Love for myself, love for those close to me, love for those I’ll never know but hope will be well. Just as strongly, I felt loved. Loved by those I see and speak to. Loved by a God of Grace.”
“But we are God’s people. We tend to repeat our mistakes, large and small. Thanks be to God for reminders from this introverted but incontrovertibly gifted servant of God of what is important and what should be released from our attention. Maybe there will be one less mistake today, because of his wisdom.”
“This is why faith formation in the “good times” is so important. The pay-off comes in the crisis. I’m proud of my community. I’m learning from them how to be church in the time of pandemic.”
“I weep and grieve and summon all my willpower not to break down as I am shopping or attending church or returning library books or writing this meditation on my best friend’s perilous days ahead.”
“What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?”
“Abstaining from communion was the single best Lenten experience of my life. I discovered that I could be fed by the Word and other elements of worship. During this period, I discovered God’s abundant grace and love not in the bread or wine but in other simple ways—a hymn, the sermon, and even in the exchange of a smile with a member of the congregation. My Easter experience was made extraordinary through my Lenten practice. I truly came to appreciate worship in all its diversity in the Episcopal Church.”
“Our mission is to be midwives of the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. That is no easy task and it takes enormous energy, courage, strength, and effort.”
Buechner’s words are the antithesis of a church sign.