Our end and His beginning

At the empty tomb, we come to the end of our own efforts, and encounter the new beginning that is only God’s to give: Moses’ mother concealed him until she could no longer , then set him adrift. The boy was “drawn out” to fulfill God’s plan. (Exodus 2)

Arise, shine, for your light has come,*
and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.
For behold, darkness covers the land;*
deep gloom enshrouds the peoples.
But over you the Lord will rise,
*and his glory will appear upon you.

The Israelites grew weary under centuries of slavery. When God’s time was right, That very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt, company by company. (Exodus 12:51)

In the tender compassion of our God*
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,*
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Jesus’ first followers came to the end of their faithfulness and deserted him. But God raised him from the tomb to make them new: “…he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him. This is my message for you.” (Matthew 28:7)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

By Tim Fountain+ at Lent and Beyond