Tuesday, March 26, 2024
“Read the Gospel of Luke, Chapters 19-24”
Today’s Lenten Challenge, to read Luke, chapters 19-24, is another easy one for Holy Week. Since most people (me included) aren’t automatically familiar with the content in today’s reading assignment, I’ll clue you in a little: It’s the whole crucifixion and resurrection story of Jesus Christ.
The story is one that many people know, but it’s my guess that folks don’t know the story as well as they think. The Resurrection Story is packed with all kinds of information, characters, and situations that can easily be missed if the reader isn’t paying close attention. Especially for those who were raised in a Christian church, reading this story and picking up new details is difficult. Why? Because when we know the storyline, we subconsciously divert our attention to the conclusion.
Today’s Challenge, to read the Resurrection Story, is specifically chosen because all of us can benefit from some of the details of the story. Yes, it’s a long passage, meaning that there’s plenty of details to notice. However, the point of the Challenge is not to test our breadth of knowledge. Instead, the reading is intended to help us notice the amount of work and detail that God put into the story.
The Resurrection Story is about God’s immense, eternal love for humankind. The story is not about Easter Bunnies (although they’re very cute) and eggs filled with surprises (although I love them). Our Easter story, which includes Easter Baskets, special brunches and lunches, and Easter Lilies, doesn’t end on Easter Sunday. Our story, because of God’s love for us, begins at Easter.
Colored eggs are supposed to be symbols of hope. Baby ducks and chicks represent the days of innocence of our youth. Jelly beans hidden in Easter grass were a nightmare for mom’s vacuum and my special Easter clothes never really fit properly. But all that stuff, though it’s lovable and makes me smile, represents only a tiny fraction of the smiles that God has provided me throughout my life.
I have reason to be thankful. I have reason to have hope. I have reason to smile and lots of reasons to be the best person God created me to be.
All of that is made possible by the Resurrection Story. Take some time today and read it. See for yourself what God may want to show you.
Read Luke, Chapters 19 – 24!
“Today, salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:9-10, NRSV)
