My glory will not fade; the bow will be ever new in my hand. – Job 29:20

Today’s Scripture Reading (April 8, 2012): Job 29

He is risen! I have to admit that I normally am not enthused with the ancient sayings of the church. The Orthodox Churches has different sayings for various times of the year said in a greeting - response set up. My problem isn’t the sayings themselves, which are often good reminders of the elements of the faith, but rather with the expected response. It is my opinion, and I stress just my opinion, that inside the walls of the church they can often become barriers to those who are new to the faith. It can often be a way of identifying the ones that are recent converts or seeker of the faith. And it has a way of making them feel a little more uncomfortable in a place (church) that can be overwhelming enough when you are new.

But the one exception to the rule would by today. Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the grave. So today we greet each other with the words “He is Risen” and the expected reply is “He is Risen indeed.” Or “Indeed, He is Risen.” Today we celebrate a once in history event, the day that someone returned from the dead. At the time that it happened it was unexpected. No one thought that the cross wasn’t the end of the Jesus story. On the cross they thought that they were watching the glory of God fade into oblivion. But they were wrong.

Job looks back at his life. He had expectations. He had ways that he thought that his life would turn out. And one of the things that he believed was that the honor that he had piled up during the events of his life would last through to the end of time. It was a bit of a surprise to him that it didn’t. His glory faded and his bow became brittle in his hand. And he never thought that it would be that way.

We all live through those moments. As we grow older, the things that we thought we would always be able to do start to become harder. Our glory fades, and sometimes it seems to fade when we need it the most. But God’s doesn’t. There is a reason why we are to place our trust in the glory of God – because it is only his glory that doesn’t fade over time; it is only his bow that remains supple and ready for use. It is only him, who died and rose again that deserves that kind of honor.

So on this day, let me be among the throng to greet you with the ancient words of the church. He is risen. And his glory continues to shine and shine – and shine.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Job 30