Watching Chernobyl

Dear God, this is Kelley.

I watched Chernobyl, God. The lies! The suffering! It scared me. It made me worry about the people who doubt You already. What if they watch this and use it to confirm You either don’t exist or You don’t care? It’s just too easy to go to dark places.

But You are there in those dark places. And it’s not Christ the King who’s there. It’s not God Almighty who’s there. It’s not God, Ruler of the Universe, who’s there. It’s Jesus on the cross. It’s Christ and Him crucified. That’s who’s there.

When we suffer, we don’t need to hear about Christ the King. When little girls are stolen in Darfur, we don’t need God the Judge. When I’m on my knees missing my son, hating the drug that took him, and the society that hurt him so much, I don’t want to hear from the One who “saved me from my sins.” No, I need the cross. I come stand beneath the cross. I look up to see Jesus there upon it. While we suffer, God still suffers. Every parent understands this.

And what happens next is clear. By running to the cross, to the crucifix, I am empowered. I am comforted. We are empowered. We are comforted. Thank you, God.

Reflection

How is that Christ can remain on the cross and yet be resurrected, too? Why is it both, and what does this tell us about our world?

Prayer

Oh, My Lord, thank You for suffering with us. Thank You for meeting us in the midst of all that stings. Thank You for the grace that flows from Your crucifix. May we use it to face all that is so disordered, in us and in our world. May we run to the crucifix when we are overwhelmed by suffering. Amen.