Yesterday morning (if you are reading this on Friday) something unique happened at the church that I don’t believe has ever happened before in all my years of ministry. I had gotten to the church earlier than usual todo the final setup for the Maundy Thursday experience we were offering. I was running around getting things set when I heard a banging on the alley door. We usually keep that door locked, so I went to the door to see what was going on. It was someone from one of the local flower shops saying they had a delivery for our church. I thought that was odd and wondered who would be sending flowers to the church…it was too early for Easter Lilies to be delivered, and this wasn’t who we had ordered lilies from anyway.
As the person set the stand for a wreath in the church, I must have had a very confused look on my face. They said, “This is for the ‘so-and-so’ service today.” Well, that didn’t help my confused look. I said, “For who?” The delivery person repeated the name, “For so-and-so.” I finally said, “I have no idea who that is.” The person looked at their delivery notes and replied, “This is the Methodist Church, right?” I indicated that indeed we were the United Methodist Church but that we didn’t have any service scheduled at our facility.
The delivery person looked really confused and said, “You don’t have a funeral here this morning?” I said, “No, I’m afraid not. Or at least not that I’m aware of.” Well, the driver said they would go back to the store and try to get this figured out. I wished them well and hoped they’d find the right church.
Since it is Holy Week and the day before Good Friday, when we remember Jesus being crucified, it got me thinking about faith, death and funerals. Suddenly a verse from the Bible popped into my mind. Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Years ago, this was my favorite verse. (Someday I’ll tell you a funny story about this verse and my wedding day!)
As I reflected on that verse the thought came to me that maybe everyday – every morning there should be a funeral at our church. That service would be a daily recognition of the reality of what Galatians 2:20 is saying. You see, as a Christian, I have made a commitment to be a follower of Jesus and so have you if you claim to be a Christ follower. In Galatians 2:20 Paul is sharing with the church, or Christians in Galatia, that when one is a follower of Jesus the individual dies to “self” and lives as a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17) in Christ. What was true in Paul’s day is true for us yet today… The old self has died with Christ on the cross… and the resurrected Christ lives within each of us now…each and every day!!
Maybe there should be a funeral every morning at our church facility to remind us all that our old self has died. You know, that old nature that tended to be more self-centered or that pulled you/me away from God. That part of us is gone. But we are not just an empty shell wandering around this earth. No, what empowers us now is the resurrected Christ who lives within each of us. That is the spirit of love that helps each of us to be the hands and feet of Jesus. It is that energy in our life that helps us to be more Christ-centered, seeking to make the world a better place and to live out God’s Kingdom together. Yes, that is a reminder I need in my life every morning!
This mistaken delivery was a good reminder that it isn’t the craziness of this world that empowers me. It isn’t a leader from some particular party that gives me hope. It is the living presence of Christ that now lives within me. There’s no need to send flowers to this daily morning “funeral” at our church because this celebration of new life can take place wherever we are. Let’s just give thanks each morning that our oldself is gone and that Christ, the resurrected Christ, now resides within us.
Yes, on this Good Friday we are reminded that death is real. But in Christ…the RESURRECTED and LIVING Christ, death is never the end of the story…new life is possible! That is Good News for ALL!!
Pastor Keith