At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, … “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “Look, he is calling Elijah.” One of them ran, soaked a sponge with wine, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to take him down.” Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.... When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint Jesus. Very early when the sun had risen, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb..... On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed. He said to them, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here.  Behold, the place where they laid him.”  

What do we learn from the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus? What do we learn from the passion, death and resurrection of a person who had so much to give like Jeremy Reed in the movie “Powder”? Apart from any theological application of Jesus’ life, apart from the fantasy abilities that were Jeremy’s, it is a very simple message. We have a tendency to crucify the people who can help us. We are in the martyrdom business. Not only have we actually made martyrs, people like Abraham Lincoln, the Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., but we have often chosen not to listen to people who have challenging messages.
 
Why do we not take to heart the message that we are too materialistic, or too greedy, or seek too much pleasure. Why do we not want to practice what we understand only too well: love is more important than power, humanity more important than technology and integrity more important than riches. Why do we crucify the very thing we need most?

Incredibly, however, even our negatives turn to positives. The horrors of Jesus’ crucifixion gave rise to the hope of eternal life. There still is hope. As we study the final session of “Powder” and witness not only Jeremy Reed's allegorical death, but his resurrection as well, we are struck with the possibility that we can change. The world can become a better place because of one person, because of us. It is a lesson to be learned and lived.                       

THOUGHT
 
PRAYER

Good and gracious God, you give us examples of wonderful people who have lived your message as they have lived in our world. Help us imitate them in such a way that we can be hopeful people, and show that hope to others. Be with us, we pray.

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike