This Holy Week, it is hard to express all the emotions I feel as we approach the Cross once again. There is so much pain, suffering and violence in our communities here in the US and in communities around the world it is hard for me to believe that Resurrection is coming. And yet, Jesus knew and Jesus still knows our human suffering. To me, this is the most important aspect of the incarnation. Jesus was a human being and still loves us human beings – even though we cause each other to suffer terribly, even though we do not love one another as God loves us.
This week, I have been thinking a lot about the Most Rev. Desmond Tutu. He is one of two finalists for the 2026 Golden Halo in Forward Movement’s Lenten Devotional called Lent Madness. Archbishop Tutu was well acquainted with suffering. He witnessed terrible violence by the Apartheid government against Black people in South Africa. He risked his life advocating for equality and justice for Black people in South Africa, as well as truth and reconciliation for ALL South Africans once the Apartheid regime fell. Despite it all, Tutu was able to maintain his hope. In his book, God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time, a book which I keep close by me at all times, Archbishop Tutu wrote:
“Dear Child of God, I write these words because we all experience sadness, we all come at times to despair, and we all lose hope that the suffering in our lives and in the world will ever end. I want to share with you my faith and my understanding that this suffering can be transformed and redeemed. There is no such thing as a totally hopeless case. Our God is an expert at dealing with chaos, with brokenness, with all the worst that we can imagine. God created order out of disorder, cosmos out of chaos, and God can do so always, can do so now–in our personal lives and in our lives as nations, globally. … Indeed, God is transforming the world now–through us–because God loves us.”
May we hold onto the hope that – because of Jesus’ death and resurrection – God’s transforming, redeeming work of Love continues in the world. May our worship together on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday strengthen us to embody Christ’s transforming Love. Amen.
Love and Blessings,
Teresa+
