Word of Encouragement

When we send out things of a personal nature from TranzAct, we understand and appreciate the fact that we have a wonderfully diverse audience. So in writing our annual Christmas letter, or even these weekly Words of Encouragement, we always want to be respectful and sensitive to the fact that the members in our audience have their own unique faith traditions and ways of celebrating important holidays.

I bring this up, because with the beginning of Passover on Friday, and on Sunday, Easter celebrations, this is an important weekend for a whole bunch of folks. And that brings us to this week’s Word of Encouragement.

Several years ago, Pastor Tony Campolo gave an Easter message that I have never forgotten. Tony is a great orator which is just one of the reasons why I love to listen to this message, titled “It’s Friday, But Sunday's Coming!” during the Easter Season.

In this message, Tony reminds the audience that on the first “Good Friday,” when Jesus was crucified, things looked pretty bleak for those folks who had placed their hope and trust in Him. The night before his death his disciples had deserted him and now, as a crowd had gathered to witness that death, the people who had loved and followed him were in a state of despair and discouragement.

After Tony gets done painting the picture of what transpired that Friday afternoon, he reminds the audience that this event was not the end of the story. Tony recounted that after delivering a great message, an African American pastor followed him to the podium, and before recounting several of the events that happened on Good Friday, he would start with “It’s Friday.” After describing the events he would then say “But Sunday is coming!”

For some reason, with all the things that are happening in the world, this message seems more timely than ever.

Truth be told, I’m getting a bit tired of all the polls and the relentless focus on all of the things that are happening in the world and the news that creates questions that can cause us to worry. Are we witnessing the emergence of another COVID variant? How much worse will inflation get? What will be the fallout from the horrific invasion of Ukraine? The list goes on.

I’m sure many of you may have your own set of questions. But when you are done with the questions and then get to see things like the horrific attack on a subway car in New York City, I have to be honest and say that for me, even though I am an optimist by nature, there are times when I can’t help but think: “It’s Friday - and things aren’t looking too good!”

That is why I love this message. In the Christian tradition, we celebrate the fact that in the midst of their despair, we are told that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb where Jesus was buried and found that it was empty. She then delivered that message to Peter and together they realized this story had a much different ending.

Regardless of a person’s faith traditions, or whether faith is even a factor in a person’s life, we can all use a big dose of hope and a belief in the fact that the things that we are seeing and experiencing today will get better. And that is why for me, and perhaps for you as well, we can all be encouraged by the point that is accentuated in this message: “Friday is not the end of the story. After Friday comes Sunday and better days.”

For my friends who will be celebrating their Passover Seder, Happy Passover. And for those friends who will be attending church on Sunday and celebrating the words written in Matthew: “He is risen!”