A brief note about that process of seeing death and resurrection in a new light. Perhaps the most fruitful way to show the human content of the involvement with death is to show the insight available after Jesus' death which enabled the apostolic witnesses to go back in their memory and reread their past involvement with Jesus in its light. This is the understanding of Jesus' life and death as a scandalon, or stumbling block. I always find it encouraging when we are told that those disciples didn't get it. They just didn't get it. They had Jesus with them all along the way and yet - they didn't get it. I don't think I would either. So here we are offered a possible insight. They were able to look back through the event of the resurrection - through the utter transformation of all things - and get a handle on the life that is not afraid or ruled by death. That life was the life of their friend and teacher - Jesus. THAT'S what he was doing! The events did not need to change. Jesus was still rejected for many and various good reasons. Jesus was still the victim of a brutal death. Jesus was forever peaceful - nonviolent - forgiving - serving of all and yet still rejected. All of that is the same - but now after the resurrection it is seen as a resurrection life that is offered to all of us. No longer are we to be held captive by the brokenness of sin and violence and blame. Connection: The resurrection brings 'new eyes' which will inevitably bring us 'new hearts' that will move us into 'new life.' We are always invited into that life where death and its many faces will not have the last word - nor will they have power over us anymore. We know a story - within the context of ordinary life - in which Jesus took death and sin on and did not let that power win the day. The way it was done continues to baffle us all. It was done by serving - laying down one's life for another - making love a life that is filled with forgiveness right through the end. O God of life, by the power of the resurrection take hold of us again this day so we will see the way and begin again the first steps of new life. Amen. |
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