Sunday, September 28, 2003
Sunday, September 28, 2003
"It was now about the sixth hour and there was darkness over the whole land until
the ninth hour, while the sunlight failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two."
There comes a time when someone must take that walk of compassion, someone must scale
that wall of hostility, someone must go out on that limb of love. Jesus did.
There is no more graphic illustration of that truth than the event that occurred the moment he
died. What does Luke tell us happened when Christ breathed his last? "It was now about the
sixth hour and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sunlight
failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two."
The curtain that separated the believer from the holy of holies was torn in two. The final wall
separating humanity from its Creator was ripped apart. That is what the cross of Jesus Christ is
all about.
(Luke
23.44-45
NRSV)
When former senator and vice-president, Hubert Humphrey, died several years ago there was a
memorial service in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Washington's elite gathered to say good-bye to
their much-beloved friend. Richard Nixon was there that day. He sat off by himself, as if he were
quarantined. Howard Baker, remembering that day, said, "Nobody would talk to him. Everybody
was afraid of him." The awkward ostracizing of the former president ended only when President
Jimmy Carter walked over to Mr. Nixon, shook his hand, and welcomed him back to
Washington. NEWSWEEK magazine concluded that this simple act of humanity and
compassion changed Nixon's future. "If there was a turning point in Nixon's long ordeal in the
wilderness, that was it."
Loving God, may I freely share your love as you have with me. Amen.
