It is once again that time when the church recalls the crucifixion of Jesus and then celebrates his resurrection. The pattern of death and resurrection is everywhere. I see it in the tree that I really thought may have died just a couple of weeks ago, that is now beginning to flower again. And I see it in the Shaving Brush tree that had those beautiful blooming magenta flowers last week and now stands naked, except if you look closely you will see that small new leaves are beginning to appear. Nature so beautifully proclaims the paschal pattern.
There are many different dimensions to this pattern; both death and resurrection come in many very varied forms.
Some deaths and resurrections seem natural like the cycle of seasons or the peaceful surrendering to the eternal after a long life.
Some deaths are crucifixions. The crucifixion of Jesus was violent and unjust. I don't really believe that God wills such deaths instead when they happen God turns them into resurrections. Torturing and violently killing a person can't be in the plan of any God that I believe in. Jesus came to teach us to love one another. He turned previous assumptions upon their head; he challenged the status quo. He befriended the outcasts of his time and put love before the law. God probably knew that such a death was a possible or even probable because Jesus' message would challenge people and frighten those in power who had much to lose if the first would really become the last and the last first. His death was lawful and sanctioned by the government of this time. If God had directly intervened to stop it our free will would have been compromised. I believe that God allowed the crucifixion of Jesus (did not will it) but God did not allow death to have the final word.
There is so much violence in the world. This is not God's will but God will try to use whatever happens to bring about good. When I read of young people marching for peace and stricter gun laws in the wake of school shootings, I see this pattern of change for the good occurring, as a result of unjust, violent loss of lives (God did not will the shooters to kill or want those young people to die at this time, but God will use tragedy to transform and empower people to change.)
Sometimes what might seem like a natural death may be more of quiet crucifixion. I think this happens often in Haiti. A death may be from an illness, but it may be an illness that would easily have been treated or perhaps completely prevented in other places. People may die because of a storm but it is poverty caused by systemic injustices that denied them the possibility of obtaining adequate shelter that would have easily protected them from that storm.
The paschal pattern in our own lives takes many forms. We let go of habits that are harmful to ourselves, hurtful to those we love, selfish, or damage the earth. We recognize the error of our ways, make amends for our wrongdoings, become aware that our behavior may be negatively affecting society or the earth itself and we choose to change. These are the small dyings we are called to and so we become new people, resurrected in a sense in our ordinary daily lives over and over again. We all have had times of loss and grief or have been victims of something whether accidentally or due to an injustice of one kind or another. When we go through the grieving process or suffer from pain and then after time, as a result, we find that we have become more compassionate, less judgemental or start to live out of a deeper perspective about what is truly important in life then too, we have experienced our own dyings and risings.
What is true for individuals is also true for structures, and societies. Much of the unnecessary pain and suffering in the world is caused or allowed to happen as a result of systemic injustice, which values some lives more than others. It is a few people who have most of the power, prestige, possessions, and privilege who benefit from the current societal structures. They are the ones who would be most threatened by the real message of Jesus and probably find a way to silence or kill him today, (or perhaps dramatically distort his message to justify global structural injustices that benefit them.) It is these systems that need to be radically transformed. The current structures that were created to benefit the few, must be allowed to die and then be resurrected built with love, equality, peace, mercy, and justice for all people and in a fashion that is sustainable for the earth.
Thank you for taking the time to read my ponderings; writing them out helps me to try to make sense of my recent thoughts and reflections.
Since schools were closed this week, I was able to spend more time at the orphanage allowing the children to come to the play therapy room not so much for formal therapy but simply to play. I offered a creative activity for the oldest children too. It was enjoyable. It amazes me when I realize how the children have grown so much since I first met them. It is a privilege to recognize the Paschal patterns in their lives and celebrate their own risings from the pains of previous sufferings they have experienced.
May you experience many blessings and celebrate resurrection during these holy days!
Some deaths and resurrections seem natural like the cycle of seasons or the peaceful surrendering to the eternal after a long life.
Some deaths are crucifixions. The crucifixion of Jesus was violent and unjust. I don't really believe that God wills such deaths instead when they happen God turns them into resurrections. Torturing and violently killing a person can't be in the plan of any God that I believe in. Jesus came to teach us to love one another. He turned previous assumptions upon their head; he challenged the status quo. He befriended the outcasts of his time and put love before the law. God probably knew that such a death was a possible or even probable because Jesus' message would challenge people and frighten those in power who had much to lose if the first would really become the last and the last first. His death was lawful and sanctioned by the government of this time. If God had directly intervened to stop it our free will would have been compromised. I believe that God allowed the crucifixion of Jesus (did not will it) but God did not allow death to have the final word.
There is so much violence in the world. This is not God's will but God will try to use whatever happens to bring about good. When I read of young people marching for peace and stricter gun laws in the wake of school shootings, I see this pattern of change for the good occurring, as a result of unjust, violent loss of lives (God did not will the shooters to kill or want those young people to die at this time, but God will use tragedy to transform and empower people to change.)
Sometimes what might seem like a natural death may be more of quiet crucifixion. I think this happens often in Haiti. A death may be from an illness, but it may be an illness that would easily have been treated or perhaps completely prevented in other places. People may die because of a storm but it is poverty caused by systemic injustices that denied them the possibility of obtaining adequate shelter that would have easily protected them from that storm.
The paschal pattern in our own lives takes many forms. We let go of habits that are harmful to ourselves, hurtful to those we love, selfish, or damage the earth. We recognize the error of our ways, make amends for our wrongdoings, become aware that our behavior may be negatively affecting society or the earth itself and we choose to change. These are the small dyings we are called to and so we become new people, resurrected in a sense in our ordinary daily lives over and over again. We all have had times of loss and grief or have been victims of something whether accidentally or due to an injustice of one kind or another. When we go through the grieving process or suffer from pain and then after time, as a result, we find that we have become more compassionate, less judgemental or start to live out of a deeper perspective about what is truly important in life then too, we have experienced our own dyings and risings.
What is true for individuals is also true for structures, and societies. Much of the unnecessary pain and suffering in the world is caused or allowed to happen as a result of systemic injustice, which values some lives more than others. It is a few people who have most of the power, prestige, possessions, and privilege who benefit from the current societal structures. They are the ones who would be most threatened by the real message of Jesus and probably find a way to silence or kill him today, (or perhaps dramatically distort his message to justify global structural injustices that benefit them.) It is these systems that need to be radically transformed. The current structures that were created to benefit the few, must be allowed to die and then be resurrected built with love, equality, peace, mercy, and justice for all people and in a fashion that is sustainable for the earth.
Thank you for taking the time to read my ponderings; writing them out helps me to try to make sense of my recent thoughts and reflections.
Since schools were closed this week, I was able to spend more time at the orphanage allowing the children to come to the play therapy room not so much for formal therapy but simply to play. I offered a creative activity for the oldest children too. It was enjoyable. It amazes me when I realize how the children have grown so much since I first met them. It is a privilege to recognize the Paschal patterns in their lives and celebrate their own risings from the pains of previous sufferings they have experienced.
May you experience many blessings and celebrate resurrection during these holy days!
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