April 9, 2004 Good Friday	Read Corinthians 1:23-25
But we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
THIS IS A GOOD FRIDAY! I recently heard devastating news about the daughter of a dear friend who experienced the stillbirth of her first-born child. The hope and anticipation of what was to come was stripped from her in a mere unannounced moment in time. No doubt fervent questions surfaced: Why did this happen?  Why would God allow it? These feelings are not unlike the disciples' feelings or those of the women sitting at the foot of the cross. They had hoped for a messiah, one who would save them and enrich their lives beyond measure. And now, all their dreams seemed beyond reach. Even Jesus felt betrayed and alone in his pain and sorrow when he pleaded from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" What hope can be in this?  Why would anyone trust in a God who allows pain, dying, death?  For some, this is a reality without resolution.  For those of us who have witnessed God’s promises through the stories from Abraham and Sarah to Jesus, the message is clear:  God’s salvation always comes to pass.  It comes to us in God’s own way and in God’s own time.  It comes to us revealed in awe and wonder. Where are you in the Holy Week story? Are you feasting at the Last Supper?  Are you in the garden of Gethsemane?  Are you sitting outside the tomb weeping at the loss of your loved one? In whatever situation you find yourself, God is with you. Sometimes you're aware of it and sometimes you're not. But the reality is that, in Christ, death does not occur without resurrection. The promise, although not always evident in the moment, will come. It is faith that allows us to have this hope and gives us the anticipation of salvation, a healing and wholeness that comes only through the gift of God in Jesus Christ. May this hope be yours today. Lord, in all our moments of life when you seem far from us, remind us of your resurrection promise. May we cling to it in hope. LAURA ULICKY-WEERTS

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