May 4, 2022

Hence the necessity to die daily: how ever often we think we have broken the rebellious self we shall still find it alive. – C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, p. 89

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

This is the opening acclamation of our worship service from Easter through the Day of Pentecost – fifty days of resurrection celebration when we (at least liturgically) celebrate the presence of the risen Christ amongst us. So far we have seen the empty tomb, have seen Jesus appear to the disciples twice so that Thomas would not be lost, and have seen Jesus cooking fish on the beach and telling Peter to “feed my sheep.” This coming Sunday we will hear Jesus talk about himself as a shepherd.

With his resurrection Jesus is pointing us to a new life, to a new way of being. In our baptismal covenant we state that we will continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, that we will resist evil, and that we will proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.

Additionally, our Lenten observances are there to help us reshape our lives through prayer, fasting, and working to make a right beginning.

Whether it be the words of the Lord's Prayer, or those of the general confession, or maybe even those of a personal confession, I am/we are led to believe that we/I have broken the rebellious self at least on a weekly basis, if not more. I am/we are led to believe that we have defeated sin and are able to lead holy and blameless lives.

But for all of that – for all of the alleluias and for all of the celebrations, for all of the promises to resist evil and proclaim the good news, for all of the disciplines and attempts to make right beginnings – sin is right there at my door looking to control me and woo me away from God with promises of personal greatness.

The rebellious self moves away from God daily. The rebellious self looks to establish itself as equal to or greater than God. And when we work to put an end to our rebellious selves, or to put an and to our selfish ways in an honest attempt to make God a priority in our lives, it can feel like a part of us is dying. It can feel like we have put a small part of us to death.

Perhaps Jesus knew this. Perhaps this was why he told, and tells, his followers that whoever wants to follow him needs to pick up their crosses daily.

We are in the Easter season, the season of joy, new life, and resurrection. It is the season of alleluias and walks with Christ. Let us not get so caught up in the Easter celebration that we forget sin is not only a hard habit to break, but that we are very good at finding new, creative, and justifiable ways to sin. Because when we get right down to it, putting our sinful nature to death and living in the joy of resurrection is a daily exercise.

Blessings,