No God-forsaken places! That is the good news of Christ's resurrection. Women went to the tomb grief stricken. They must have felt that in Jesus' death God had forsaken them. An angel startled them with earth-shaking news: "Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He has been raised. He is not here." (Mark 16:6) Not even the cross and the tomb are God-forsaken places.
What a profound word of hope this is throughout the world. To those weighed down with guilt and shame, to those wandering the earth, seeking shelter and safety, to those longing for hope and hungering for food comes the Good News: Christ is risen! God has not forsaken you.
"Go tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you." (Mark 16:7) Words of promise and challenge spoken to the women at the tomb and to us. Christ is risen -- alive in the world -- forgiving, loving, reconciling and setting us free. God's power and presence are everywhere. God will not be confined even to our churches and cathedrals, nor remain only in our hearts.
Christ is alive! We go to meet him in a world of terror and fear. This is God's promise for a new day. No God-forsaken places!
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
