A Christian news group that I subscribe to offered a wonderful segment last week for Western Good Friday that I wish to chew on today for Orthodox Good Friday. A listener to their news service asked why the agency is Christian yet covers so much bad or depressing news stories. Can’t they just up the anty on more positive, life-affirming stories, and would that not be a more redemptive, Christian approach to news? That is, they wanted to see more stories that demonstrate where God is working.
The editor Paul Butler underlines the equation the listener seems to make between good news and God working. He uses the ultimate example of the crucifixion and death of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and asks the poignant question, “How would we have interpreted this calamity or covered this story at the moment when it happened?” It is a stark reminder that God’s ways are not ours, and more often than not, He works through suffering and ostensibly bad circumstances for an entirely different purpose and outcome. As the Patriarch Joseph says to his brothers that sold him into slavery in Egypt, “What you intended for evil, God has turned into his good purpose.” And we often cannot tell that good purpose right away, but need to learn to trust Our Creator and Deliverer to bring the answer in His own good and perfect time.
May He who was beaten, mocked, and crucified for us and for our salvation teach us patience and perseverance in learning His providence in the affairs of the world. We worship Thy passion O Christ. Show us also Thine all glorious Resurrection!
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