Luke 24:1-3, 8-11
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body.
Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
This Easter, God knows, we need a miracle
We need more than a sign that death can be defeated
We need assurance that light will not be extinguished forever by darkness
This is no time for idle tales
How much do we believe in resurrection?
How far are we prepared to oppose the empire
that cannot stand to see its oppressive power defeated by love?
This is no time for idle tales
Throughout the world we see the evidence
that empire is built on division and sustained in fear
using lies and deceit to shore up its shaky foundation
composed of layers of coercion and corruption
This is no time for idle tales.
How much are we prepared to resist?
To believe in one who was sacrificed by empire
who plumbed the depths of hell
so that we might know:
This is no idle tale
It is a call for those who believe
in another power
in another kindom
in the cumulative power of love
to keep on resisting the evil we see
with all that we have
for the love of one who gave all.
This is no idle tale.
(Liz Crumlish Easter 2022)
Sure Liz ... the journey to Calvary is one of isolation, ridicule, jeering, community bullying, misunderstanding and misrepresentation... one of utter despair and desolation ... one to be endured (mostly silently, patiently... ) and holding out hope that it will end, it’s finality will complete what has been voluntarily given/ laid down/handed over to others for —- one thing is sure that I know ...it is impossible, physically or spiritually, to crucify one’s self ...part of the nature of the suffering IS that others do it, yet not really knowing what they do.
ReplyDeleteEvil will NEVERTHELESS NEVER win although it may appear so for ...as a The recently passed Desmond Tutu said - ‘goodness is stronger than evil and love is stronger than hate’ ...HOW it is perceived only has to do with the pride of life - it is like Paul says - poor but making others rich, rejected, downcast, , .. - - it is ALL part of ongoing crucifixion but what broke Jesus heart was the ripping apart of the unified one best beating heart with His Dad, ripped, Spat on, trodden down - utter desolation for Christ and it was that, I think, that ended it for Him...I think.