Jesus, His mother, Mary and Disciple, John
The sun has hidden her face today. Metal gray clouds mute the sky with a dreariness that seems appropriate for this Friday the Church calls Good. This is the day we contemplate the suffering and death of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The day when time stood still, and the earth, shrouded in darkness, shuddered and quaked. The day when death appeared to have the final word as Christ took His last breath. It is a solemn day, marked by suffering and sorrow.
How can this be good?
How can it be good to contemplate the suffering and death of Christ? For some, this seems morbid and strange, and maybe even wrong. Wouldn’t it be better to jump right into Easter and the resurrection? Focus on joy?
It’s only through the cross and the crucifixion that we begin to understand the depth of love Christ has for the world. It’s here that we witness the outstretched arms of Christ, nailed to the cross, are arms of forgiveness, mercy and compassion. Arms that call us home. Arms that encompass us in Love. It is here, on the cross that sorrow and joy intermingle…and we see that sorrow and joy are always intermingled. And this is Good.
Across the continents, in western Kenya, Good Friday has already morphed into Holy Saturday, and soon Kenyans will celebrate Easter. In Texas, a medical team is gathering to travel to Kenya, and Rehema Open Door is preparing to open her arms and her doors to receive them. Even though Rehema Open Door is still unfinished, mercy soon will be dispensed to the poor and suffering there. And this is good.
We adore You, O Lord,
and we praise and glorify Your holy resurrection.
For behold, by the wood of Your cross
joy has come into all the world.
God be merciful to us and bless us,
and cause His face to shine upon us and have mercy upon us.
We adore You, O Lord,
and we praise and glorify Your holy resurrection.
For behold, by the wood of Your cross
Joy has come into all the world.
How good it is to look back at the 14 month history of Rehema Open Door. From drilling a well in January 2022 to the end of March 2023, our Hospice and Palliative Care Center is growing so fast. This next week, we will be hosting our first Medical Mission Team at the site. God is so Good and you all are His hands of Mercy to His little ones in rural western Kenya.
