When pain and terror strike by chance, with causes unexplained, when God seems absent or asleep, and evil unrestrained, we crave and all-controlling force, ready to rule and warn, but find, far-shadowed by a cross, a child in weakness born. We marvel at God's nakedness and sense the play of chance in Herod's anger, Peter's growth, and Pilate's troubled glance. Our Saviour's tempted, tested way never was cut and dried, but costly, risking life and love, betrayed and crucified. How deep the Wisdom of our God, how weak, but truly wise, to risk, to sacrifice, to die, and from the grave arise, to shed the shroud of death and fate, freeing our hearts for good. We breathe the ample air of hope and take our chance with God. Since Wisdom took its chance on earth, to show God's living way, we'll trust that fear and force will fail, and Wisdom win the day. Then, come, dear Christ, and hold us fast when faith and hope are torn, and bring us, in your loving arms, to resurrection morn.