A Lenten Reflection

In the 1995 film “Dangerous Minds”, LouAnne Johnson, a first-time teacher did something unthinkable to her tough and seemingly hopeless students given-up for by her predecessors. She started their term with each student earning an outright perfect grade of 100 and challenging them to see their inner worth by striving to keep that score. She slowly worked her way to gain their trust by letting them feel her genuine concern and changing their belief that they are not the failures of society.

More than 2000 years ago, Jesus, the first-time man-form of God, did the most inconceivable action for His stature. He sacrificed his earthly body to be dragged, chained, stripped, whipped, spat-at, wounded, mocked, speared, nailed and finally put to death so all of us can gain back the entry to His kingdom. He spent three public years to proclaim this good news of salvation and to give hope to all people especially the sinners so their eyes will be opened to the truth that they are not the failures of God’s people. The message is clear, Heaven will rejoice at the knowledge of one sinner repenting and being converted rather than the ninety-nine righteous already enjoying God’s grace.

This Good Friday, we should remind ourselves to throw away our erroneous belief that we are hopeless sinners with a hopeless destiny. Jesus our Lord paid the price for our sinfulness and conquered the fearing grip of death with His resurrection after three days. He gave each one of us His sacrificial score of 100 for us to accept and live in accordance with. This is His only challenge for us in exchange for what He did – that we live our lives as saved, forgiven and loved persons of God.

So what is my present life-score with the Lord and how can I make myself more worthy of His passion and death?
The Lenten week provides the best opportunity to seek the answer in the silence of our hearts.

God bless our Holy week.