By default, this seems to be turning into reflections on the service the night before!

Yesterday evening's service was rooted in Romans 3: 21 - 26 which, evidently, according to Martin Luther, is the heart of the New Testament, and indeed the heart of the Bible.  In a careful, line by line exegesis/exposition the preacher reminded us that Easter is all about atonement, about putting humanity right with God.  He didn't press any one understanding of atonement, though the choice of music reflected a strong PSA (penal substitutionary atonement) model.

If I'm honest, I always take it as read that Easter is about atonement - in all its assorted understandings and interpretations.  Perhaps that means that when I hear or respond to the stories of Holy Week or the passion I listen through a different ear trumpet (or whatever the audio parallel to a lense might be!) that is more concerned with the 'what' than the 'why'.  Perhaps it is important for me to shaken out of my own complacency.

I know "why", God.

I was taught in school and Sunday School and Brigade and, and...

I know that this is a story about atonement

About cancelling debt

Or restoring relationship

About blood shed to appease righteous indignation

(Even if I find that a toughie)

I know that through the centuries

Clever, faithful people

Have wrestled in order to wrest meaning and purpose to the story, or stories

I know the "why"

And instead focus on the "what" or perhaps the "how"

Perhaps this Holy Week

In the middle of the story

It is good to stop

Not deeming Romans 3: 21 - 26 the heart of the Bible

Not elevating a paragraph of Paul above everything else

But instead marvelling

That this atonement,

This making right

Transcended any racial, religious or other humanly defined categories

To include all...

All.

That's why.

So that all may drawn into the promise.

Those who think like me and those who don't

How ironic that universal embrace is part of this text:

"There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus"

As the global new reports spread stories of terror and sorrow

Remind me, remind us, that the sacrifice of Christ is made with no exceptions for all.