A good day

A day of darkness and gloom (Joel 2:2)
It is not hard to guess what Jesus' disciples felt on the first Good Friday. A day of darkness and gloom just about sums it up. They have watched in confusion as he is led away for trial. The bravest follow to look on but are driven away by the inquisitiveness of the other onlookers. So it may be that, even on the night of Maundy Thursday, they hold out some hope of escape for their loved Lord. On Friday morning even that glimmer of hope must have been cut off as by a hand snuffing out a smouldering wick.
Just so does Joel look on the attack on his nation with dread. We cannot be sure if these are two invasions, one succeeding the other, or if this is the story of one attack told in two different time frames. Whichever it is, the fear is doubled, as a prediction of disaster is made a firm promise: the fire has devoured, the fire has devoured.
So it may be for many this morning. This is no good Friday, but a terrible day of mourning and sorrow. Like dawn spreading across the mountains, the army of destruction comes. For Joel it is a visible army of locusts, for us it is an invisible army of viruses, which, when they come in enough numbers, can swamp the immune system of even the fittest of people.
But we are party to a secret, as were the disciples. Jesus had told them very plainly, if only they had taken the trouble to listen. 'The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be killed and on the third day be raised to life.' God's secret is that life has an order, a process. 'Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.' In God's economy, Good Friday is always followed by Easter Sunday.
We may need new eyes to see it, and it may take years to bring the blessing to full growth, but, in God's love, after the storm comes a calm sea. I think we may reasonably pray to be protected through the storm and for Jesus to quickly stand up and say, 'Quiet. Be still.' Nevertheless, it is worth remembering what the disciples for a moment forgot. Easter Sunday always follows Good Friday. Joel didn't get to see it. Let us trust we will and soon.

Dawn over the White Hart Vale, West Dorset

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