Easter Sunday: What does resurrection mean in these troubled times?

trigger warning: state endorsed violence, racism

It has been disconcerting and heart-breaking to watch the Derek Chauvin trials during holy week. Jesus was given a sham trial, found guilty, and killed by the white state. George Floyd was given no trial and simply killed by the state. And now we wait while the jury decides whether or not it was okay for George Floyd to have died this way. I feel like Pilate is on trial and we’re waiting for the jury to decide if he made the right call or not. The Defense argues that force was necessary because Mr. Floyd was antagonistic and needed to be subjugated. The Defense argues that there was an angry mob that was responsible for the police not being able to do their job properly. The Defense argues, “You will see that three Minneapolis police officers could not overcome the strength of Mr. Floyd,” which necessitated the knee to the throat. Apparently Mr. Floyd had superhuman powers.

I’m trying to situate myself in the Easter Story. I am a woman at Jesus’ tomb. I hear the angel say, “He is not here. He is risen,” and I am, like the women in Mark 16:8 “bewildered.” What does Jesus’ resurrection mean when the systems and people that put him to death continue to be in power? The Roman Empire that arranged the death of Jesus continued to kill Jesus followers up until the strange plot twist when Christianity became the religion of the Roman empire itself. The empire kept conquering and oppressing — except this time in Jesus’ name. And while the Roman empire met its demise, Christianity never fully let go of the empire living. Christians continue to seek power because surely, that will bring forth the Kingdom of God. We act like God desires a Christian president to force all creation to bend at the knee. In doing so, we are like the Israelites, once freed from grips of Pharaoh’s power, asking God for a King. Where is the Christ that loves sacrificially? Where is the Christ that blesses the poor, the gentle-hearted, the peacemakers, and justice seekers? Do Christians actually believe Jesus should free the prisoners? Or do Christians think it’s better for prisoners to stay prisoned and the oppressed to stay oppressed? Because maybe they deserved it.

“We had hoped that he would be the one… (Luke 24:21)”

I want to believe that the death of Mr. Floyd will be the one to help us understand that the police needs to be held accountable; to help us understand that Pax Romana is a lie. Violence does not beget peace. Violence done by the state only has the appearance of order because it turns violence into law. But to be honest, I don’t feel so hopeful most of the time. How will our society’s addiction to control, power, greed, and violence ever go away? Some days I want to let despair wash over me. But I don’t. Because for an unexplicable reason, I am still a Christ follower. Jesus says “Kingdom of God is in your midst (Luke 17:20),” and I know it to be true. Yes, no doubt the militarism and violence is here. But also among us are voices that say we need to centre Black and Indigenous bodies and voices. There are communities taking care of the poor and unhoused these pandemic days. There are people like Father Greg Boyle who help create loving communities for to former gang members. There might not be many of us now but the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. Small but full of life.

I would pray that people… That we all stay anchored close to the bone of the gospel, that we choose to take seriously what Jesus took seriously, that we find the joy in the only place that were offered it, which is at the margins, so that we enter into exquisite mutuality with others, so that there is no us and them, only us, that we might be in the world who God is open hearted, tender, compassionate and kind. And may we continue to be remarkable signs of God who loves us, without measure, and without regret. Amen.

So this Easter Sunday, in the struggle to understand what the resurrected Christ means in this broken world, I preach the good news to myself. Turn away from the lie of self-sufficiency that lures you into thinking you know best and you can accomplish anything, everything by yourself. Turn away from the desire to control the outcomes of your actions. Turn away from the desire to force others to believe and behave the way you think is right. You are not god and even God doesn’t do that. Stop asking God to take the role of the hero and force God’s will top-down when Jesus clearly repudiated that approach when offered by the devil in the wilderness. Accept that in the Kingdom of God, God is a servant. Christ resurrects only to disappear into the background and centre us. And we, in return, are to love like he does. Practice inclusion, non violence, unconditional loving kindness, and compassionate acceptance. Go to the margins and create a world lifting up the voices and experiences of the hurting and oppressed so that all may come to know the peace and joy that exists in the Kingdom of God. Surely God is with us always, to the very end of the age (Matt 28:20).

Originally published at https://yjro.wordpress.com on April 5, 2021.