Hints of Easter

Dictionary.com defines hermeneutics as “the science of interpretation, especially of the scriptures.” During my ministry, I have increasingly seen what I do—in almost every area of pastoral work—as hermeneutics. I see what is going on around me, I reflect on it in light of the Bible and theology and experience, and I try to make sense of it to myself and to others—in preaching, teaching, pastoral care, even during meetings and seemingly unrelated activities.

I suspect we all do a lot of hermeneutics in our lives. It is part of how we live as disciples of Jesus Christ. We interpret the world we inhabit in light of what we know of God through Jesus and scripture, and what we have learned in the hundreds of worship services and Sunday school classes we have attended.

Yesterday afternoon, I traveled “down the mountain” for a lecture at Second Presbyterian. As you all know, around here spring is giving a few little hints, a bit of green lawn here, a few buds there, daffodils and crocus—but in the valley, all the trees have bloomed out—the tulip trees, the redbuds, the pears—and everything gloriously green and lush. As I soaked it in, I kept thinking about Easter—about resurrection—new life—and the hints of it we keep getting throughout our earthly lives. If heavenly life is anything like spring, what a wonder it will be! And if is anything like our glimpses of joy, peace, and love that we share as we worship, fellowship and study together, what a wonder that will be! Even in death, we are in life—life today, and life complete one day. Thanks be to God!