In
the story of Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus is said to have returned in
body and made himself known to Mary Magdalene and the disciples. They
were, of course, astonished that he had returned at all since the men
were sure his death on the cross was the end of the road. So skeptical
were they that, Thomas (as in doubting Thomas) is said to have put his
finger in Jesus’ wound. The story goes on to proclaim that the message
of Jesus should be preached to the world by his followers (this is
known in Christianity as “The Great Commission”). The understanding is
that Jesus will someday return to judge the living and the dead.
Of
course, once Jesus died, we too are skeptical as to the real meaning of
his message. It is in the resurrection that we move from a religion about Jesus (what early followers called “The Way”) to a religion of Jesus.
There is a deeper meaning in the resurrection than whether it actually
happened or not. The resurrection illustrates the power of faith, the
hope for the world and the image of God made human and accessible to
all. At least that is how I look at it.
After
the resurrection comes the possibility of believing in a future that is
far better than our present. These days that belief takes a lot of
faith. While our congregation and our families are managing to find hope
and meaning, the outside world seems fraught with daily struggles and
hypocrisies. The expulsion of two African American legislators from the
Tennessee State House for exercising their right to protest the lack of
gun safety legislation, was just such a hypocrisy. The super majority of
Republicans censored three Democrats for their protest in the Well of
the house; Justin Pearson, Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson. The
Republicans then expelled Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, both African
American, from their offices and thereby disenfranchised the people in
Memphis and Nashville who elected them.
Perhaps
it was no accident that their expulsion happened during Holy Week
leading up to Easter. While it appears that they will both be
re-instated, the power of the resurrection story illustrates how this
expulsion was a modern day crucifixion, a punishment by the state on the
false charge of sedition. My colleague Rev. Sam Teitel, minister of our
UU Church of the River in Memphis, invited Justin Pearson, who
represents Memphis, to preach the Easter Sermon. Pearson along with his
family (his father is a preacher and also participated in the service),
preached one of the most powerful sermons I have ever heard. He made a
vivid connection with the Speaker of the House as Pilate and the
assembled supermajority as the Empire.
The
video to the sermon is linked below. His sermon starts at time stamp
1:03. It’s a long sermon but worth it all the way. I was struck by this
young man’s power and purpose. I was astonished by his courage and
wisdom. And, in the spirit of Dr. King, I am heartened by his call for
justice, amplified by the congregation who were often on their feet
clapping.
After
the resurrection, hope seems possible. Our place in that possibility is
to bear witness for truth and justice, and when we can, to support the
cause of a better world.
With Grace and Grit, John
