Presbyter's Ramblings

PRESBYTER'S RAMBLINGS

As Easter rolls around, all too early this year, we are reminded of our pivotal faith story of death and resurrection. We hear a tough story  which has been sanitized over the centuries, much more so in the last century.  Indeed, for a number of protestant denominations the remembering of Good Friday has in the past been deemed unimportant - Easter Sunday was all that was necessary. Resurrection was the important message. However, we can’t have resurrection without death.

In my reading lately I came across an article in Time, April 7, 2023, by Associate Professor of History  at Whitworth University, Arron Griffith.  In a short piece he reflected on Easter in the American context.  It is worth a read. It is both humorous and gets to the heart of American politics and religion. While religion is now in free fall in the US, Easter is at least is still an important occasion. Griffin laments that it is, sadly  mostly a commercial occasion.

In the New Zealand religious context  Easter is important for some and the last hurrah of the summer season for others; one last chance to get away before the onset of the colder months.  It is for the most part a festival of hot cross  buns and chocolate eggs and bunnies. For those of us in the know these festive icons tell the story of Easter.

The story of Easter is a story of terror. Of torture and cruelty. It tells of a great and mighty empire inflicting the worse excesses of might against a people who had no defence. But Easter Sunday rolls around we have the resurrection.  The resurrection doesn’t deny what had happened, and the terror remains sadly to this day for many around the world.

But the story is a declaration  to the mighty that God’s life triumphs.

This is the Good News.  In the West we’ve individualized Christian spirituality. This is not a bad thing.  It does hold us all to account.  It is a celebration of the worthiness God sees in us all. This is something to be celebrated.  Even shouted out from the rooftops.  It also holds societies to account. 

 The first Easter called out the Roman Empire, as it calls out the empires and petty despots around the world.  It provides an alternative narrative to present day power and privilege.

Easter, ignored by many throughout history and by most of the world’s powers, is not done with us yet. A story worth responding to in our time.

 Andrew.