What tells the story of a scar? It could be a physical scar, an emotional scar, or otherwise. What has grown out of that? The open space, that gaping wound. Were you stitched back together? Who did the stitching? What shape does your face take when you think back on the story that scar holds? What grows out of that fertile space, that gaping wound?
Palm Sunday to Easter is a space that tells the story of a scar. We call it Holy Week, and what a time to make space to bring ourselves to the healer. Our wounds tell the true story that things are not yet right. And our lives that unfold are an experiment in truth telling: to acknowledge the world as it is and also try to observe who holds it up. Know the scaffolding of Easter hope—Christ was crushed and buried in a gaping wound in the earth. He was put in the ground and something else burst forth.
But before we get to Easter, we have a busy week. There are tears and a triumphal entry on Palm Sunday, cleansing of the temple on Monday, one last meal with a new commandment and betrayal on Thursday, and death on Friday. We do not lack while we wait to celebrate Easter with City Church at Axelrad in Houston or online. We have a place for Christ to stitch us up in a way that grows something new, and an invitation to be part of the stitching in a world eager for hope. We need to be led in how to dream and how to pray and how to grow in longing for the one who sets us free.
When we look for Jesus this Holy Week, we see him weeping over Jerusalem, we see him lifted high on a cross in our stead, and he is not in a tomb. He took our deepest wounds upon himself, and the risen one is not far from each one of us. He hems us in, behind and before. And just as spring whispers of future glory, with the wind that lifts our heads to the sun, the Spirit comes and hoists the heavy praise our souls might still be too weary to sing. His scars can tell the story, if you’re not ready. For Christ’s is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’”
For Lent 2021, we will reflect on the Lord’s Prayer through images. Images come from Scott Erickson, originally found in May It Be So: Forty Days with the Lord’s Prayer by Justin McRoberts and Scott Erickson (Colorado Springs: WaterBrook, 2019). Images used with permission.
