It’s the inbetween day, that day between the terror and despair of Good Friday and the joy of Easter. If you think about it, we spent most of our lives in such an inbetween time, between despair and joy. We’re not quite sure whether to be despairing at the world around us or to hope for a radical change, such as Resurrection, to give us joy.
So much of the world seems to be caught in terror and despair. Over the last 24 hours, we’ve seen terrible bombings on a humanitarian site in Gaza, killing at least 90, another shooting here, this time in Florida – God! We cry, when will this end?
Attempting to address the inbetween time of Jesus’ death and Christ’s Resurrection, the early church came up with a doctrine called the “harrowing of hell,” when the dead Jesus pulled righteous souls from death to life. Would it be so easy for us as we struggle to live in a world caught between death and life.
Prayer for the Day
Searching for life in the midst of death, for hope in the midst of despair,
We turn to you, O God, begging for answers but finding none;
Unsure of what to do as the world descends into turbulence,
We struggle to be faithful witnesses, as you call us to be.
Lord of light, give us your light to our eyes blinded by the dark,
So we can share that light with a world caught in despair.
In the name of the One who is your light,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Life begins on the other side of despair.
Jean-Paul Sartre, French existentialist philosopher (1905-1980)
It’s easy to lose sight of God when life is sweet and easy. But there is something awesome about despair, and it is the closeness of God when we are at our weakest.
Kristin Armstrong, cyclist and writer
On you I was cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me, you have been my God
Do not be far from me, for trouble is near an there is no one to help.
Many bulls encircle me, strong bulls of Bashan surround me,
They open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.
I am poured out ike water, and all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast.
My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
You lay me in the dust of death. ..But you, O Lord, do not be far away!
Psalm 22: 10-14, 19