By the Rev. Mark Boorsma, Ascension Lutheran Church

As the apostle Thomas discovered, the boundary between doubt and belief is subtle, and it is possible to cross into the realm of believing before one is fully aware. Today a world remembers the self-giving death of Jesus, whose sacrifice of his life forever raises a new creation in his own resurrection. A whole broken world reverberates with a surprising plea from the dying Jesus: “Father, forgive them.”

Naturally Good Friday is not most peoples’ favorite part of the story. We would rather hasten on to an empty tomb, cautious and fearful disciples on the brink of great rejoicing, and on to the eggs, baskets, jelly beans and chocolate bunnies that have been co-opted into the celebration of resurrection. But I’m not sure it’s possible truly to know Jesus unless one spends considerable time contemplating and reflecting upon his death on the cross. And not just as an old story, but as a redemptive Passover narrative that includes you. Those who have come to believe that Jesus’ saving death is “for you” gain deeper insight into God’s own heart and come to know themselves as Christ’s beloved community.

Although I deeply appreciate that the death of Jesus was and is for me, faith-filled maturity flows not from the mere individual and personal appropriation of this saving truth. The Holy Spirit helps me ‘grow up’ in faith by revealing that everybody I meet is a sinner for whom Christ died — alienated and hurting human beings that God has not cast off or abandoned, but whom God so eternally loves as to send the beloved Son to suffer and die.

So I invite you today to bring to mind your enemies and those with whom your relationships are especially troubled or broken. Imagine yourself at the foot of the cross — with them — mutually astonished at a love so amazing, so divine, that Christ gives himself in love for each of you. Then pray that Jesus might still kindle in us a share of his love, forgiveness, generosity of Spirit, and redemptive action in this world God so loves.