Everlasting

As a kid, I never understood why "Good Friday" was called Good Friday when so much bad happened. I mean imagine being betrayed by a friend, arrested, beaten, and tried six times in two courts all to be sentenced to death for crimes you didn't commit. To add insult to injury, Jesus died to redeem the very people who deny/denied, reject/ rejected, and betray/betrayed him. My God. Jesus did something that has had an everlasting effect. His death and resurrection are celebrated on the first Sunday following the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after the day of the vernal equinox every year. Every year, stores are filled with bunnies and eggs that have absolutely nothing to do with Christ's resurrection. Every year, non-church goers flood the pews to hear sermons of how Jesus died for our sins on an old rugged cross. Every year, I am reminded of an Everlasting God with an Everlasting love whose sacrifice opened redemption's door to Everlasting life. Happy Good Friday! Happy Passion Week! Happy Easter!

Compassion

John 15:13 (KJV) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

My grandfather was murdered saving the life of his boss during an armed robbery. It was a selfless act that was deemed heroic by the Times Picayune at the time. However, it left our family with a void no one could fill. My grandmother became a widow. My mother, aunt, and uncles lost their father. My cousins and I lost a grandfather. His death left ripples in our community, but love is sacrificial. Our loss was his gain. He earned a big jewel in his crown that day. Compassion is love  in action.

As I celebrate Good Friday, I can't help but to think about Mary. Her son was murdered. She watched her son give his life for the redemption of sinners who deny his existence. The disciples lost their example, but love is sacrificial. Their loss was our gain. We gained a savior. The cross was God's love in action. He came and died for us. God's compassion is unmatched. However, it should be the motivation for us to have compassion and truly put our love in action.