An Easter Legend

This may be premature, in one sense, as this edition of Mainspring should arrive at your doors prior to Easter Sunday. Yet it contains a word we need to hear. Have you heard this quite beautiful story? It is actually a legend, a very old legend that speaks a very important truth concerning the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to heaven after his Resurrection and Ascension.

The story is told that the angel Gabriel met Christ at the gates of the holy city Jerusalem. "Lord, this is a great salvation that you have wrought," said the angel. But the Lord Jesus only said, "Yes." "What plans have you made for carrying on the work? How are all to know what you have done?" asked Gabriel. Jesus said, "I left Peter and James and John and Martha and Mary to tell their friends, their friends to tell their friends, till all the world should know." "But Lord Jesus," said Gabriel, "suppose Peter is too busy with the nets, or Martha with the housework, or the friends they tell are too occupied, and forget to tell their friends -- what then?"

The Lord Jesus did not answer immediately; then he said, in his quiet voice (the one he used to calm the storm at sea): "I have no other plans. I am counting on them."

There it is. The "them" is us! May Holy Week and Easter's proclamation move each and all within our ranks to a more profound witness of the salvation that Jesus Christ has wrought. So it is, we are called to commit ourselves to Jesus, to one another as brothers and sisters, and to the Maker's business in the world. God said, "Let there be light." Indeed may we be that light -- in the tradition of Peter and James and John and Martha and Mary.

See you Sunday,

E. Taveirne