I is for
Invitation, as in Welcome
The highlight of the Easter story is that the word of welcome outlives, overrules, replaces the word of retribution. That highlight hits home as that word of welcome is offered to kids like us and received by faith. The resurrected Jesus appears to the kids who broke the window and assures them that he is why they are welcome in his home. He has made for them a new relationship with the owner of the house. And that relationship is himself. They relate to God through Jesus. Trusting that promise of Jesus, the kids have faith that the owner will not condemn them, but have mercy on them and love them and will invite them in for a big supper. This trust is Step Five, The Internal Solution.
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In this faith the kids go back to playing. However, there is something new and different about how they play. They no longer play to beat the others. They no longer play to make themselves look good. They play to help each other. They play to make other kids feel loved. They interrupt their play, or in the midst of their playing they tell the other kids, "The owner of the house's son says that you're good, and that if you need anything, you can ask the owner of the house. And tell us. Maybe we can help you."
So these kids live in Step Six of the Crossings' Prognosis. They know beforehand the outcome of their relationship with Jesus. They know beforehand that they are loved and good to the father of Jesus, even before they meet him and go to his house for a big supper.
timothy j hoyer
