Easter Sunday 27th March 2016
The bomb attacks in Brussels this week have shown us that deadly and evil things are afoot in our world. The official story is that these attacks were in response to the arrest of one of the terrorists involved in the Paris attacks last November. What no one seems to have talked about is that these attacks happened in Holy Week – my feeling is that these attacks were also planned to interrupt and desecrate the holiest week in the Christian faith.
The Archbishop of Canterbury tweeted that he was praying for the people of Brussels only to be jeered at and ridiculed by atheists and secularists who seemed to believe that religion is the problem not the answer. I felt tempted to point out that the secular agenda has not always been blameless in the massacre department – Hitler, Stalin and Napoleon between them were responsible for horrendous carnage.
Whether or not this week’s attacks were deliberately planned for Holy Week, the contrast between the evil demonstrated in Brussels and the death and resurrection of the Jesus is worth considering.
Good Friday is over now for another year, and here we are again at Easter morning. But the two are closely linked. As he hung from the cross, and previously during his imprisonment and trial Jesus too was jeered at and mocked. What did he say or do in response? Did he seek vengeance like the Brussels bombers? Or respond in anger to those who mocked and derided him? No. What were his words from the cross. Well he said he was , and he expressed a sense that God had forsaken him (both of these were entirely understandable and show his humanity) . Apart from this all Jesus’ words from the cross were words of love and forgiveness – love and concern for him mum, asking God to forgive those who jeered. No revenge, no getting even, no retaliation – just love.
There are many ideas about the crucifixion and resurrection – different ‘models’ if you like. I’m not particularly keen on the one which talks about God’s anger being satisfied by the sacrifice of his son – it was maybe a useful metaphor in the days when people made animal sacrifices, but it has always only been a metaphor not a statement of fact despite what some Christians think. Instead I think the idea of perfect love conquering death itself seems a much more useful image for today, especially in the time of terrorist revenge massacres.
The truth is that Jesus’ life, as well as his death, is all about forgiveness, non-violence and love. Jesus told us to turn the other cheek rather than retaliate. He forgave where others sought revenge and loved when others hated.
In these days we have to be very careful not to fall into the pattern of hate, especially in Blackburn where almost a half of our community is Muslim. It is hard, very hard, but the terrorists will have won if we allow hatred and mistrust to thrive. Only love drives out fear – that is in the New Testament (1 John 4 18), and only love conquers death and destruction.
There are many things that could be done to stop the carnage which seems to be such a feature of today’s world – why don’t we do something about the bottomless pit of weapons? Why don’t we spend money on education instead of war? Why don’t we move to stop half the world living in poverty which breeds resentment and hatred when the internet allows people to see how much we have? These are big issues – we can campaign about them, write to our MPs, (and we should be doing these things) but ultimately there’s not much individuals can do – we feel helpless.
Of course much of the mayhem on Tuesday wasn’t caused by commercial weapons as such, but by home made bombs. Here is where our Easter faith comes in. Just as much as someone of evil intent can turn the ordinary things of life into a bomb designed to kill, maim and disfigure, we can turn opportunities to hate into chances to love. That is, to follow in the way of Jesus who absolutely refused to hate and who taught us to forgive – and who overcame death as a result.
Imagine if each one of us went out this week and very publicly refused to hate. Or very publicly made friends with someone we might be expected to hate. What if someone else was really struck by this behaviour and decided to follow suit. Before we know it, from one single action, a wave of peace could spread across the world. Peace begins with one single step made by one single person – and that person is you and you and you – and me.
Jesus’ resurrection teaches us that life is stronger than death, love is stronger than hate, forgiveness stronger than revenge. Jesus’ LIFE teaches us that although life, love and forgiveness are stronger, they are definitely NOT easier. The way of Jesus Christ has been called a steep and rugged path, a narrow gate, the way of the cross. But this is the way we as Christians are called to walk, the life we are called to lead.
So Easter, for us, is not simply about what happened to one man 2000 years ago but how we live now. Easter is not just something we believe in but something we live, something we do, something we are. We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song, but love is our calling and our pathway.
Love is often portrayed as something rather week and fluffy. In fact love is hard work, love is tough, love is demanding and difficult. Ultimately love is all that is eternal – hatred will one day be consumed in judgement, we believe. But love is eternal. And that is our calling and our hope this Easter and always. Amen
