What exactly is Redemption? Did the Lord die in my place? How does ‘God balance mercy and justice’? What does it mean that the Lord became sin? Or that He became a curse?
Continue reading Understanding Great Friday: Sin, Sacrifice, and RedemptionTag Archives: sacrifice
Hurting people.
Who of us has not felt the sting of hurt? I imagine the question is rhetorical, because the only person who cannot be hurt, is someone who has given up all personal rights. I am not that person.
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1. Beginnings
Let me tell you a story. It’s a long story, though. It’s going to be told in more than one part because you probably won’t be able to hear all of it today. It’s a beautiful story, but it’s also a sad story. The good thing, though, is that the story is not actually over, and a happy ending is very possible. Actually, the happy ending is preferred, and you will find out that you have a say in how it ends.
The hermit who became a Bishop.
There’s a monastic story that left an impact on me and comes to mind a lot. The story goes like this:
There was a monk who entered anchoritic life – that is, he became a solitary. In this mode of life, he gave himself up to the sweet love of God, and felt many comforts that came from heaven. He felt the active presence of God, he felt joy in his prayers, and the supernatural was ever-present with him. There were physical and spiritual signs of God’s love at all times.
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