Holy Fool

"The Easter story addresses the threat of death.  Death is destroyed.  Nothing more to fear there.  The threats against our creativity are neutralized by the resurrection event.  Now we can get on with being who we are, co-creators, sons and daughters of the Divine Creator.  And here lies redemption.

Paradise means "garden."  Being driven from the garden, as Adam and Eve were, is being banished from paradise or heaven, a heaven here on earth.  (Jesus teaches people to pray that things might occur on earth as they do in heaven.)  Good Friday began in the garden of Gethsemane where betrayal occured and where soldiers came to capture Jesus.  The Easter story is about recovering paradise, finding the fullness of delight and Sabbath, resurrecting from death and the fear of death.  Easter happens in a garden, and in one version the risen Christ is encountered as a gardner.  The Song of Songs, like the Easter stories so full of garden imagery, redeems the lost Garden of Eden as well.  Death is the ultimate in non-communication (remember that "hell" means "concealment").  Death is the ultimate in no creativity.  For all creativity is communication; it is the utmost of communication, the telling of our story, our hearts, our truth, our inner wisdom, our search for beauty, and our telling of pain.

Easter is about paradise restored-communication and creativity come alive.  The Easter story is about the triumph of creativity."

Matthew Fox - Creativity

O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Only a handful were left, at the end.  A mother, a sister or a brother and the disciple he loved stood watch as he bowed his head toward the ground.  All others had fled, and were hiding for fear of being executed too.

At the end, are we standing strong?  Do we take part in the bitter gaul placed before our death-cracked mouths?  Or instead are we looking to 'escape' the suffering of the cross in hopes of rapture, and a mansion in the sky?  At the end do we bank on the financial 'blessings' of this world or the priceless blood that was shed?

At the end are we obedient to our calling?  Do we live like people who give a damn about the world; creation and humanity (not worldliness), or could we care less?  "On Earth as it is in Heaven."

Jesus spoke toward heaven, but his last glance was at his friends/family and the earth they stood on as his head fell the final time.  The guard pierced his side and the blood and water flowed out and onto the earth, the final and perfect sacrifice.

At the end.  But it wasn't the end, only the beginning.  The preface was completed, the novel is now....

Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Tonight is the night on which Jesus celebrated his final passover meal with his disciples.  It was in this final communion with his disciples that Jesus began to fully bear the weight of his obedience to the father.  It was at this meal that he looked Judas Iscariot, who had/would betray him, in the eye and implicate him.  Jesus had stooped down and washed Judas' feet only moments before, knowing full well of Judas' plan.

It was on this night that the redemptive act of God was nigh, and it's implications would soon change the world forever.

Let us remember the obedience of Jesus; and remember that their is no salvation apart from obedience.

Maundy as a word has it's roots in the same place as the word command or commandment.  It was on this day that Christ gave the commandment to love one another, as he (Jesus) has loved you.