Sunday, April 13, 2014

Lenten Reflection - April 13, 2014 Palm Sunday

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:12-13


Gives me goose bumps! It's 'nightmare' quality - that horrible inability to escape, hide, win! The first man Adam must have felt that big time when he realized God knew all about their unfortunate choice. He knows! We're naked! How embarrassing!!

But, what did the Creator do? He "made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them" (Genesis).

CS Lewis says ".... nothing can hide us from God: there is no copse, no forest, no jungle thick enough to provide cover.... In the twinkling of an eye, in a time too small to be measured, and in any place, all that seems to divide us from God can flee away, vanish, leaving us naked before Him, like the first man, like the only man, as if nothing but He and I existed. And since that contact cannot be avoided for long and since it means either bliss or horror, the business of life is to learn to like it. That is the first and great commandment."

Then I think of Peter and his horror, realizing after all his commitments to the Master, and even recognizing Jesus as his Messiah, still adamantly denying he even knew Him. But Jesus knew all along this was going to happen. He looked way beyond that. He loved Peter.

Nan Lewis (2013)