“But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than
for one stroke of a letter in the law to be dropped.”—Luke 16:17
It’s
my birthday and I am, quite frankly, cheating. I’m meant to be writing once more about Lazarus and instead,
I’ve found myself captured by something Jesus says just before he tells the
Lazarus story. Jesus’ words must
have been rather depressing for the folks who heard him. It’s easier for the world to end than
for one letter of the law to be eliminated? The law, which gives many good things, but demonstrates,
too, our failure ever to achieve perfection? What a frustration, to strive for so hard and so long and to
always fall short!
How
much differently this reads for those of us who know what comes next. It was hard to give us this life-granting gift. Crucifixion hard.
Three-days-overcoming-Hell hard.
Only the Son of God was capable of doing it. But he did. He did! And on my birthday or yours, whatever our days may bring, we
live in the assurance that our law is now leavened with the essential
ingredient of God’s grace. -- LG
Thank you, Lord, for giving us this hardest
of gifts. We can never repay you,
but we hope we might serve you. Instill
in us the freeing power of your grace.
Amen.
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