In February, this white guy told you about Black Resilience. In March, celebrating Women’s history, I talked about sexism and listening to women. Now at Easter, here I am. a Jewish UU guy, back to preach my Easter sermon “Resurrecting Jesus!” Bring back Jesus? Oy!
The little Jewish kid (with a Catholic mom) that I carry inside me is afraid that his Jewish friends won’t like him anymore. I also carry the memory of a person from a previous UU congregation saying I’m too Christian, and another from the same congregation accusing me of being anti-Christian.
It’s okay. It’s actually a wild ride writing sermons for UUs! Each time, I try to offer some encouragement and some challenge. I aim to do this for myself too; Easter is definitely a challenge for me.
It’s a challenging holiday for many of us. I am eager to hear what you have to say when the “Congregation Responds” after the sermon ends.
Most UU celebration of Easter looks at the symbolism, the metaphors of this story. For me that’s what liberal religion is all about: Can we hold any and all religious story as poetry, and allow it to speak to us? Well, yes we can! … although sometimes in analyzing and breaking it down, we lose the magic of the story.
I accept the challenge to keep the mythology alive. I want us to keep the light on for people with a wide spectrum of beliefs, doubts, challenges, and preferences! Will our service honor Easter as sacred story and fulfill people who value this day deeply? If you hold parts or all of this story as literal truth, will we embrace you? Do we encourage spiritual growth while accepting a diversity of worldviews, beliefs and perspectives?
Can I as a person with a deeply-acquired Jewish identity and worldview do justice to the treasures that are sacred to liberal Christians?
*Two young women were about to take their final vows to become nuns. The bishop presiding at the Mass noticed two Rabbis seated at the rear of the sanctuary. The Rabbis had insisted they sit on the right side of the center aisle.
Although he was curious about their presence, the bishop didn’t take the time to ask them why thy had come. Instead, he started the ceremony. Afterwards, he went back to where the Rabbis were seated.
“Welcome!” said the bishop. “I’m happy to see you both here. I am a little curious however, as to why you’re present on this occasion where these young women are becoming “brides of Christ.”
One of the Rabbis smiled softly, rose to his feet and replied, “We’re ‘family of the groom’.” ***
Earlier I gave my version of the Easter story. I’m guessing that my perspective might be a little different from what you are used to. My telling gave some of the reasons that Unitarians, Universalists, and UUs have been very fond of Jesus and have tried to emulate him. My rendition reflects my biased and educated guess about what is true. The synoptic gospels make very clear Jesus’ preferential treatment of the poor, his consistent advocacy for marginalized people, and the clear direction of his efforts towards greater inclusion.
Jesus was the guy who stopped the stoning of a woman accused of adultery, saying, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” This is the guy who told the prince, who wanted to get in on the coming kingdom, to sell his belongings, give the proceeds to the poor, and follow him. This is the guy who reported to perform miracles, helping and healing people without taking credit. Instead, he gave all credit to God. This is the guy who taught faith in God’s love. This is the one who said, “What you do for the least of these, you have done for me.”
I’m hoping it was refreshing to hear Jesus talked about this way. To many, especially of the younger generation, Christianity has become synonymous with bigotry, hate, and intolerance. And yet Jesus was so cool, so generous, so challenging of authority, such an advocate for the oppressed! Jesus taught nonviolence. So why has Christianity and so many Christians advanced violence, fascism, nationalism, privilege for the rich and oppression for women, people of color, and the impoverished of the world?
I raise the discrepancy to ask, really ask, who is crucifying Jesus today? I’m being harsh because I think Christianity has beaten the desire for Jesus out of most people. Many of us are so revolted by what has been done in Jesus’ name that we won’t go near him. We see no reason to celebrate Easter.
We are tired of having some people trying to impose their religious views on us or ram their version of Jesus down our throat. Many come here to UU land wanting spirituality and wanting to get away from Christianity, but not all of us feel that way.
Yet as UUs, I think we’ve promised to make our congregations places that are welcoming and hopefully attractive to those who hold Jesus in their hearts. We want to welcome people who claim Jesus as light, truth and a way to experience deep spirituality. I also happen to believe that Jesus belongs here with us, not with those who are promoting hatred and bigotry.
I have often referred to Judaism as my first language of the sacred. For many UUs Jesus is their first language of spirituality. Jesus can be a UUs light, truth, and way. In some sense I see him as our UU way. I see us as continuing the prophetic tradition of which he was a part. I’m not saying you must accept Jesus as your lord and savior. And our UU faith tradition clearly affirms that Jesus is not the *only* way to know ultimacy, supreme meaning, or truth.
I am saying that we are free to choose exactly the relationship to Jesus we each want. We affirm the right to conscience here. And you certainly won’t hear anyone saying that you will go to hell unless you “believe in Jesus”.
You won’t hear anyone preaching hellfire here- ever! I think such doctrines are forms of child abuse. Many of us had church scare the hell into us. We want to be the church that can love the hell out of us, by which I mean love away the fear that can keep us from knowing a peace that passes understanding. Here, we preach the gospel of a love that can heal estrangement, a love that enables deep connection.
There are many interpretations of Easter. At the simplest level we recognize resurrection as something that Nature does every Spring. We see the story as symbolic of many aspects of being human; suffering and renewal are parts of the human condition. Easter reminds us that even in the worst of events, miraculous renewal and rebirth is possible.
For many Christians, Easter is the story of how Jesus conquered death. For religious liberals, the question is not, “Is this is an accurate account of the history? “Did it happen exactly as reported?” That may not be the most important question. We do ask ourselves: “What does this story mean?” and “What insight does this story offer us?” and “How might it transform us to love, justice, and peace?”.
Jesus words and his way of life can be said to be a way to conquer death, the fear of it. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus says, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life, for my sake, will find it.” I hear Jesus as acknowledging our fearful struggle to stay alive. He mentions elsewhere that death of the body is inevitable, but when we identify with something larger than ourselves, when we serve justice with mercy, and we strive to bring the kingdom of heaven closer for all of us, then we experience a love that transcends fear.
In the book of John 10:10 Jesus says “The thief comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy: I am come that people might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” When we transcend fear and embody love as Jesus did, then we are transformed, and we help transform this world.
Jesus remains a part of our living tradition. We are continuing his ministry, his teachings, and his way of life. For our tradition, what’s most important is not whether Jesus was God, or son of man, or did supernatural things. The question for us, is whether what he taught us is true. Does continuing the prophetic tradition bring life more abundantly? Is his way of life, his dedication to justice, love, and advocacy for oppressed people worth continuing?
Imagine the despair and suffering that his followers must have experienced when Jesus was crucified! Their lives had evolved around Jesus, learning his teachings, trying to follow his way of life. How could they continue without him? Surely the Romans had succeeded in squelching any hope that Jesus brought about a new kingdom to be established there!
Why was this not the end of the story?! Several of his followers reported that Jesus appeared to them, and gave instructions for them to carry on!
That they continued was a miracle! Love made a way out of no way! Love made the impossible become possible. Surely it was love, faith, and connection to the spirit of their teacher that enabled them to recover from the trauma perpetrated by the callous cruelty of the empire.
Does resurrecting Jesus make sense for us? What might it mean for us to continue in his spirit? If Christianity has abandoned his way of life, who will keep it?
And what ultimately is worthy of our loyalty? What gives our life meaning? What are we giving that will live on after us?
(long pause)…
Your turn! (time for congregation’s responses). BTW Rev. Phillip will still answer questions and appreciates your comments and feedback!) minister@uuchc.org
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