25. August 2009 by Annette Colon-Alvarenga.

¹When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. ²Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb ³and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”  ⁴But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. ⁵As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. ⁶“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ “  Mark 16:1-8

I started a study on the resurrection and I will tell you that even though I am not even half way through my study, there are some things that are laying heavy on my heart today.

In my study I read the story of the renowned Methodist preacher named W.E. Sangster. On Easter Sunday 1960 he lay unable to speak and helpless. His daughter was with him that day and because he could not speak, he wrote her a note:  Margaret: ‘It is terrible to wake up on Easter morning and have no voice with which to shout, “He is risen!”  But it would be still more terrible to have a voice and not want to shout.’  A little convicting.

While the message of the resurrection is heard throughout every Christian church throughout the world on Easter Sunday, it should not be limited to that day. Rather the message of our risen Lord is a message that cannot be left out of our witness to others. Think about this for a minute. If the Easter story ended with the cross, what would have happened to Jesus disciples? Would there even be a church today? The answer to the second question is “no.”  The Easter story is the gospel, the good news because it proclaims Jesus lives! Without the resurrection there is no gospel.  The resurrection of Jesus is at the heart of our Christian faith.

Of course we already know this, but it seems to be missing from our witness, from our message. When we tell others about salvation through Christ Jesus, about the forgiveness of our sins through His sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary and our restored relationship with God, we generally stop there. However, the resurrection is the climax of the gospel message. We must not leave it out. Peter tells us that me must “[a]lways be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15).  The resurrection of Jesus, the fact that He is risen, that He lives today, is the reason for the hope.

Everything from Jesus being arrested through His being placed in the tomb had his disciples believing that all had finished.The passage above in Mark of the women going to anoint Jesus’ body at the tomb shows that they also believed all was done. There was no hope until the angel proclaimed, “He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ This is the reason for the hope in each and every Christian, that He lives and that He goes before us.  Jesus’ victory over death means that death need not be the end of those who follow Jesus. The resurrection completes the work of Christ on the cross. Only through the resurrection of Jesus are we able to become “a new creation.”

What have I learned from this? I must be intentional to be a witness of the whole gospel. When we preach Christ crucified we must also shout, “He is risen!” The Easter story is not to be preached one day each year. We need to tell the Easter story everyday.

Posted in Personal Notes | Print | No Comments »

12. August 2009 by Annette Colon-Alvarenga.

²⁸One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”  ²⁹“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.30 ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.‘ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Jesus took the answer one step further showing that genuine love for God is followed in importance by a genuine love for others. In Luke’s version of this same debate/exchange between Jesus and the scribe, the scribe asks Jesus “And who is my neighbor?“  (Luke 10: 29).  We read and memorize these verses of scripture but I wonder: just how well do we practice them?

Last Friday my youngest son, Ricky, was looking out our living room window and noticed one of our neighbors, an elderly gentleman, having some trouble walking. I know this man just in passing. He is in his late 70’s and lives alone in his apartment. We have said “hello” almost everyday for the last two years that I have lived in my complex. We make small talk about the weather but that has been the extent of our discussions. I have noticed that in all of the time I have been here, no one ever visits him. His health has deteriorated. He has gone from driving his car, to riding a bicycle and now only takes the bus. This last Friday as he walked near the pool area, my son yelled out to me as he saw this man fall and apparently unable to get back up. I ran out the door with my cell phone to where he was laying. I asked if he was able to get up and when he said no, I immediately called 911.  The 911 dispatcher began to asked me a series of basic questions starting with: “What is the gentleman’s name?” I could not believe it. I didn’t even know his name.  As I asked him his name, I felt shame.  How was it that I spoke with him on almost a daily basis and I never even asked his name? David George. I will not forget it any time soon.

David was admitted to the hospital. He was released from the hospital late Sunday. Then Monday (yesterday) came and I was pretty busy. Each time I passed by David’s apartment I would glance over to see if he was in. I didn’t see him all day which is rare - he keeps his blinds and windows wide open and you can always see him sitting in his chair listening to jazz or opera. But I was busy with my own things and I didn’t stop by to check on him. Later in the day after I had finished my running around I took a closer look at his apartment and to my shock saw him laying on the floor. I knocked and although he was conscious, he didn’t even look toward the door. I immediately summoned the manager to open the door. When we walked in it was apparent he had been laying there for most of the day, his leg twisted/broken like I have never seen before, he was soiled and incoherent. Once again I called 911, this time able to provide his name, age and medical issues he has. But then I began to wonder about how long he must have been laying there in pain; why didn’t I take a closer look earlier? It wouldn’t have taken me but a second. There really wasn’t any excuse.

And that’s how most people live their lives, too busy to care about who their neighbors are or if they have any needs.  Jesus tells us that the second greatest commandment is that we love our neighbors as ourselves. Is this really how we love ourselves?  Far from it. This experience has given me a great awakening and a compassion I have never before felt. For those who do not know Christ, we can almost excuse this failure to care.  But we know Christ and we have experienced His incredible love for us and He has taught us how we are to respond to others. So what holds us back? Why do we keep living our lives just like the rest of the world? I think it’s time we examine our hearts and determine what changes and attitudes we truly need to make in our lives so that our genuine love for God is expressed toward our neighbors and anyone else we may come in contact with. While this has been a most unpleasant experience, it has been a learning experience. I pray I will never be the same again.

Posted in Personal Notes | Print | 1 Comment »