Canadian Biblical scholar Tom Harpur writes a syndicated column in the Toronto Sunday
Star, and recently he talked about "the glorious truths in the Christian myths." He challenged readers
"to understand that the Christian story is a "high myth" - just like those found in all other major
religions. While he affirmed that Jesus actually lived, was crucified and was "raised" by God, he cautioned
his readers to be aware of the fact that this happened in a certain historical time and place, and to know that
the "whole account was set in highly mythical terms, evident on every side in the New Testament."
Perhaps his most important statement in that article was the closing paragraph in which he said: "A myth is
often a symbolic or otherworldly telling of a truth that can be communicated only through a story. What matters
is the inner essence. Such a truth can be more crucial to one's life than any purely factual account."
However one understands "the resurrection story," our reason for gathering here this morning, the essential
truth is that redemption to spiritual living entirely motivated by love comes through faith, and we know for certain
that it is possible…because Jesus did it!
Rabbi Jordan Pearlson, who writes for the same paper made a similar comment comparing what he called the masquerades
of Mardi Gras and the Jewish festival of Purim. "What is often forgotten is that neither Mardi Gras nor Purim
stand alone. Both are symbolic of false redemption, the festivals of let's be what we pretend. They serve as preludes
to the high points of redemption, the time of let's rejoice in who we really are which follow shortly thereafter.
Mardi Gras in Christianity gives way to Easter, and in Judaism, Purim fades away into the powerful messages of
the Passover. It occurs to me that there is an intended pattern to be celebrated. Redemption is neither a masquerade
nor a drunken stupor. We, in our separate traditions, annually try the shallow answers lest we give them more credence
than they deserve, but we follow with the deep and profound challenges that real redemption implies."
Easter is a moment of celebration in which faith bursts the normal bounds of report and memory. It is not difficult
to sense the common message in the stories which the gospel writers bring to us. Nor can we oversee or effectively
validate the great variety in the way they tell the story. It is so true that mere reporting will not do. Imagination,
story telling, and even fantasy must all play a role each time the scene is re-run. Hence the extraordinarily rich
diversity in the accounts.
The mystery and wonder of the Resurrection are more than the central drama of Easter. If we try to confine them
to this one Sunday of the year, we deny God and we impoverish ourselves. The mystery and wonder of Easter are the
very stuff of life. That is why Easter is not merely a day, but a season of 50 days and why every Sunday is considered
a "little Easter."
And just as Easter cannot be confined to one day, so it cannot be simply relegated to the past nor put off to some
dim and distant future. The sure and certain hope of the Resurrection is not merely a looking back to a historical
event, nor a looking -forward to a hoped-for relief from dreaded death. Resurrection is a daily reality!
As human beings, we experience death day by day, moment by moment, task by task. High hopes can quickly be dashed.
All too often, we human beings, as one wag has put it, "snatch failure from the jaws of certain success."
The "sure thing," like Jesus riding into Jerusalem in triumph, turns into the apparent disappointing
failure ... like Jesus hanging on the Cross.
Over and over again, we convince ourselves, as I'm sure the Twelve and Jesus' other disciples must have been convinced,
that if one does the right things, makes the right plans, recruits the right staff, implements the right programs
at just the right time ... and, of course, prays the right prayers ... nothing can fail.
I'm sure that each one of you have experienced something like that in your own life, at work, at school, at church,
or in your family life. I'm sure you also know that sometimes it is in the most carefully planned and executed,
the most necessary of life strategies that we experience the most profound unexpected, costly and painful failures.
At those times, we are left with questions which, I'm sure, echo the thoughts of Jesus' first followers on Good
Friday "How could all this good, hard work go for nothing? How could all this careful planning just vanish
into thin air?
How could God let this happen?"
Those are the sorts of questions which naturally accompany failure, death and grief. Usually, the real causes of
failure are overlooked and we blame some other, outside agency luck, or chance, or the boss, or our parents, or
our children, or the stock market, or frequently God. But more often than not, the causes are within ourselves
where we have allowed death to gain a toehold in that place where God wants us to experience life.
Kevin Miller, editor of Leadership Journal, in a recent review of a book by Parker Palmer, wrote about what he
called five "leadership shadows." He says these are deeply rooted unconscious beliefs that cause harm
to a leader's ability to function. I want to suggest to you that these "shadows" affect more than leaders;
I believe they infect all of us, that they are "shadows of death" and that the Christian experience of
and hope in the Resurrection can shed the Light needed to dispel them. These deeply rooted unconscious beliefs
are as follows:
I am what I do.
This is a war and I must fight and win.
It all depends on me.
If we manage everything perfectly, we won't have to deal with chaos and pain.
Nothing can fail or die on my watch.
"I am what I do." Jesus' life, death and Resurrection put the lie to each and everyone of these "shadows
of death." "I am what I do" was never, ever uttered by our Savior. Jesus made a lot of "I am"
statements, but never that one. John's Gospel records the most famous seven "I am" statements:
I am the bread of life.
I am the living bread.
I am the light of the world.
I am the gate of the sheepfold.
I am the good shepherd
I am the way, the truth and the life.
I am the true vine.
And, of course,
I am the Resurrection and the Life.
"I am what God has assigned me to be." Jesus did not define himself in any way by what he did, had done,
or would do, but by the Will of God. "I do as the Father has commanded me," he said. (John 14:31.)
"This is a war and I must fight and win." In stark contrast to such a shadow, Jesus taught, "Love
your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone
strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also."
Even on that last night with his friends, when they would have defended him in the Garden at Gethsemane, he said,
"Put away your swords." St. Paul would later write to the Corinthians that in Jesus denying this shadow
of death, God gives us the victory not through our fighting, but through God's ultimate grace in Christ.
"It all depends on me." "Very truly, I tell you," said Jesus, "the Son can do nothing
on his own." (John 5:19) And, later, he said, "The one who believes in me will also do the works that
I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father." Jesus knew, and he
shows us, that it did not all depend on him it all depended, and still depends, and will always depend on God.
And what is "it"? Nothing less than everything! Everything depends on God and only God is indispensable,
not you, not me, not anyone! Perceived indispensability is simply an untruth, a shadow of death!
"If we manage everything perfectly, we won't have to deal with chaos and pain." "Jesus answered
[the high priest], 'I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where
all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to
them; they know what I said.' When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face
...." (John 18:20-22)
"Jesus answered Pilate, "For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth."
(John 18:37) And Pilate handed him over to be crucified.
Even the most perfect manager had to deal with chaos and suffer pain, even the pain of dying on the Cross, to dispel
this shadow of death.
"Nothing can fail or die on my watch." "And Jesus said, 'It is finished.' Then he bowed his head
and gave up his spirit." (John 19:20) By this great example, Jesus put the lie to this last shadow not only
can something fail or die on my watch, I can die! I will die! But that's not the end of the story!
These "shadows of death" grab our attention and lead us in the way of death. This happens to every human
being, even the most faithful Christian but the Risen Christ, the Light of the World, dispels these shadows if
we will just let him.
The way of the Cross leads us to new life.
Henri Nouwen wrote: "Jesus did not rise from the dead to prove to those who had crucified him that they had
made a mistake. He did not rise from the dead to impress the rulers of his time. He did not rise from the dead
to force anyone to believe in him.
Jesus rose from the dead to destroy death, to shed Light on the world and dispel the shadows of death, wherever
and whenever they fall across the lives of God's people. The mystery and wonder of the Resurrection cannot be confined
to one day, nor to the past, nor to the future. The mystery and wonder of the Resurrection, the Light of Christ,
shines across the centuries and into our lives day by day, moment by moment, task by task. Everyday and in every
moment, Christ Is Risen! He is risen, indeed!"
Alleluia!
Christ is indeed risen, alleluia, and cannot be contained by either death or orthodoxy, so we will find the risen
Christ in a youth hostel in New York, in an AIDS clinic in Africa, in Church, Mosque, Temple and Synagogue, and
in the most precious place of all, in our own lives and families. As we keep our eyes open there is no doubt we
will see and be able to echo St. Paul's affirmation: "and finally, as one untimely born, he appeared also
to me."
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