ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
April 21, 2022
Building on yesterday’s Etching, I am drawn to the words of Deepak Chopra who wrote, “The symbolic language of the crucifixion is the death of the old paradigm; resurrection is a leap into a whole new way of thinking.” I couldn’t agree more, yet when I ponder the world around me, I’m not seeing a dramatic change between a week before Easter and the day after Easter. It appears we supported an economic Easter by buying new clothes, lots of candy and who knows what else which all demonstrates a commitment to the old paradigm that has nothing to do with resurrection. Now I’m not pointing fingers, except back at myself. I’m trying to name one thing different about Bruce as I stand on the other side of Easter, a day I proclaimed Jesus Christ walked out of the tomb. At the same time, it appears as if some places in our country are rolling a few more stones in front of the tomb to lock in all that is seeking to emerge and bring new life. I am watching the most marginalized and bullied in our society being blamed for trying to simply live life. Easter, resurrection, new life, new paradigm — they all point us to a transformation of all that is seeking to dehumanize and destroy those who are easily scapegoated. We have such amazingly short memories. We’ve watched this movie over and over again in human history, yet we appear obsessed with pushing back on God’s resurrection happening in every aspect of human existence, in every moment of human existence. The story of Easter morning was not recorded in the Gospels for the purpose of protecting old ways of thinking. The dramatically new is sort of implied if we call ourselves an Easter people.
I cannot be a part of what is bringing injury to the most marginalized of this world. I cannot proclaim resurrection one day and scapegoat one without power the next. Bring new life to my heart, Merciful God, if there is any essence of the tomb residing within me. Amen.
