The fix that was in that day

Crazy time that we are living in these days. One great way to cope is through prayer. When, How, What (and all the other Journalism 101 questions) is up to each one of us, of course. Yet do consider the following words from St. Paul (Ref. Philippians 4);

“Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God’ and the peace of God that excels all thought will guard your hearts and your mental powers by the means of Jesus Christ.”

The 2022 season of Lent culminates with the Good Friday – Easter Sunday Weekend (April 15-17). During Lent, disciples of Jesus Christ are encouraged to practice any of many Spiritual Disciplines (prayer, being foremost among them). The Lord’s Prayer as it surely is a very good way to begin (or to draw our petitions to a close).

Two years ago during Lent, at the onset of the COVID virus crisis, there was a national movement to encourage all congregations to draw their members and neighbors regularly into communal prayer (personal petitions along with The Lord’s Prayer) through loud, attention getting sounds – horns, sirens, whistles, and bells (particularly church bells).

Let us consider that prime example, the church bell. Most churches have one, typically a big bronze bell – to be sounded loudly on all kinds of occasions (Sundays, certainly, and for weddings, funerals, Christmas, Easter and profoundly Good Friday). Some church bells are set in a tower feature of a church building, and others are prominently mounted upon an outdoor stand (that way, they can be both seen and heard).

Sadly, some church tower bells lack the ability to clang, usually because of some kind of unseen brokenness way up high in the building. Years do tend to take their “Toll” – on church bells (and on all the people of the world).

One particular church bell had for years and years remained as silent as a prayer vigil until there was a “Fix” – and for that bell “The Fix Was In” one particular Friday named “Good.” A repair crew had been called in so that when Easter came the clarion call could be heard once again. Hours later the rope was readied for its first functional tug in a long, long time. Yet first heard was this statement:

“Before we try let’s first check the time – for history’s sake.”

Yup, you guessed it – Hour Three of the afternoon that fine Friday – the same hour and weekday 2,000 years earlier – when “The Fix Was In” – when Jesus Christ, crucified on the cross for the safe and fix of our brokenness, gave up his spirit. That fine Friday became known as “Good” because of that Third Day when neither the grave nor death itself could restrain Him any longer – “He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed!”

So after “the Fix was in” and the repaired rope got tugged – the church bell tolled – 3 p.m. on that Good Friday – “CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!” – a total of 12 times – for completeness – for “It is Finished” is what our Lord and Savior said upon the cross as he gave up his spirit for the salvation of all our souls.

Then, the bell was left to be at rest and silent again – until the Third Day – ready once more to share its news with the neighbors – the Good News of the Gospel of Grace in Jesus Christ – for weddings, funerals, Christmas, and of course for all Sundays, especially for those with Easter in their title.

As we opened with discussion of prayer, let us now close in this communal, yet personal prayer:

O Lord, your Holy Word tells me to “Fix my eyes upon Jesus who … endured the cross, scorning its shame…” (Hebrews 12:2)

In all our ways of preparation for the Easter Sunday celebration, whenever we set about a “Fix” for this or that, help us first attend to our own selves, help us comprehend and personally claim for ourselves your power of salvation from “The Fix that Was in” on the cross and in the tomb – now open and empty.

Help us, O Lord, “fix the rope” in our lives, so that we can be that bell that proclaims its clarion call, both of the Good News on that Friday, and of the glorious Third Day News on this Easter Sunday, and forevermore. Alleluia and Amen!