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There it is. Right there. Do you see it?" said my friend. This was our third time watching the same 15 seconds of the DVD of the latest version of Star Trek. Again, my friend pointed to where I was supposed to look. Finally, I saw it, a little tiny R2D2 robot from Star Wars floating in space. But R2D2 wasn't in his own movie, Star Wars, he was showing up in Star Trek.
R2D2 is an easter egg but not the kind that we hide in the grass on Easter Sunday. Another type of easter egg is when something out of place or unusual is buried in a movie or tv show in such a way that you almost have to know you're looking for it in order to see it. For example, in the TV show "Fringe" a bald man wearing a 1950's suit will appear in the background at some point in every episode. Many fans have made a game out of looking for this person as they watch each episode.
Easter eggs occur in video games, movies, dvd's, tv shows. In earlier days they often took the form of a 'hidden track' on a cassette, record, or CD. Although hidden they are ubiquitous (everywhere).
During the season of Lent we prepare for Easter by showing Easter egg moments from the life of Christ. Each of the Sunday lessons is a vignette in which the true nature and true purpose of Jesus is revealed, even if only for a moment. Each of the Sunday lessons invites us to peer beyond the surface details of Christ as a wise man or miracle worker and to behold his glory, the glory of the only begotten Son of God, the Word made flesh. And we are also to catch a glimpse of his destiny—to be rejected by the religious and secular establishment, suffer, die, and rise again three days later.
But Lent is not merely a time for us to encourage one another to search and yearn for the true God. For if anything, in our searching we will discover that it is truly God who finds us, who was, and is, and ever shall be at work behind the scenes. Our quest for God is overshadowed by God's quest to reunite us with himself through His Son.
Martin Luther writes, "I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life." This is most certainly true. Our assurance of God in our life rests on God's sure search, God's sure finding, and God's sure rescue. We are found.
St. Paul teaches us to say that our life is actually hidden in Christ--that our lives and purposes have not only been forgiven but that our destinies have been rewoven into the divine tapestry of God's new creation. Although most often we will not see in this life how God uses us, there are times where he also allows us a glimpse into his purposes. At times in our life we will look back and say, "God allowed me to live so that I might be here for you." But it will not be until Christ returns that we will fully know the work of God among us. Better that we keep coming back to what God has revealed clearly. Jesus Christ has died, he is risen, and he will come again. For you.