Resurrection: Between the Now and the Not Yet
Ron Harmon, Council of Twelve Apostles
The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. -Psalm 9:9-10
I shared with a good friend the other day who was suffering because of the loss of her life companion. Death feels so final in the moments following loss. Even the most eloquent expressions of hope don’t breathe life into the darkest moments of despair.
I wanted nothing more than to move past this space to hope and yet was disturbed with an awareness that this was fertile ground-space where the seeds of resurrection would take root and grow. Neither one of us could just “move on.” We were changed and the “not yet” could only unfold as we fully claimed the impact of the “now” on our lives.
Two distraught disciples traveled from Jerusalem to Emmaus. It was Sunday, the third day of the most disruptive and dark weekend of their lives. They were talking about the horrific events that had just taken place. There was no going back to the way things were. They were in the space between “now” and the “not yet.” Their emotional turmoil was a necessary part of claiming the impact of the “now” on their lives.
Then a stranger (Jesus) joined them and inquired about what had happened. He chose to abide with them in the difficult place of their suffering. In the raw and receptive space of the “now” the living Christ was revealed as they broke bread together.
Where does one look to find the beginnings of resurrection? Does it occur in one glorious flash of divinity after the long hours of suffering? Or is it hidden in our complacency until reality abruptly presses us into raw receptivity?
May we live fully in the “now” together, cultivating receptive space and open to glimpses of the “not yet” unfolding in our midst.
Prayer Phrase
Are we moving toward Jesus, the peaceful One?
Spiritual Practice
Moving Toward the Peaceful One
As Jesus was nearing the final days of his life, he wept over the city and proclaimed, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace” (Luke 19:41-42).What are the things that make for peace in our lives, communities, and around the world? During the Lenten season, spend time in silent refection or journaling each day to notice: Am I moving toward Jesus, the peaceful One? Pay attention to your attitudes, actions, and relationships this day. When did you most embody the peaceful One in your daily living? When were your thoughts or actions contrary to the peace of Jesus Christ? How might Jesus, the peaceful One, who is always near to you, be inviting you to draw nearer to him through your daily living?
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
