Matthew 5:16  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Remembering Johnny Hart:  Johnny Hart was a Christian and the cartoonist who created the comic strip “B.C.”  He passed away at his drawing board 5 years ago today on Holy Saturday – or as he called it, “kick butt Saturday”  in view of Christ’s victory over the underworld.  While Johnny was alive B.C. appeared in 1300 newspapers with 100 million readers.  It was considered the most widely read strip in the world.

Because Johnny periodically included his Christian faith in the strip, some newspapers censored them.  One of the B.C. cartoons the LA Times first refused to run was his Palm Sunday 1996 strip featuring the famous character Wiley sitting against a tree, tablet in hand, writing a poem entitled “The Suffering Prince.” Here’s the poem:

Picture yourself tied to a tree,
condemned of the sins of eternity.
Then picture a spear, parting the air,
seeking your heart to cut your despair.
Suddenly—a knight, in armor of white,
stands in the gap betwixt you and its flight,
And shedding his ‘armor of God’ for you—
bears the lance that runs him through.
His heart has been pierced that yours may beat,
and the blood of his corpse washes your feet.
Picture yourself in raiment white,
cleansed by the blood of the lifeless knight.
Never to mourn,
the prince who was downed,
For he is not lost! It is you who are found. 

Over the years I have been blessed by so many of his strips.  I didn’t realize until yesterday that today was the anniversary of his passing – and that it was on Holy Saturday.  How fitting for him to meet Jesus on such a special day!

Here is a link to one of Johnny’s Good Friday cartoons where he addresses the question of why call Friday “Good”:  http://thezagrodnys.com/2012/04/05/good-friday-cartoon-bc/