April 27, 2008

Sixth Easter Year A

Deacon C. J. Knapp

Today is Eastern Orthodox Easter and it is a much nicer time of year to have Easter than it was last March 23^rd. Is it not strange that there are two different dates for Easter some years? Is it not strange that we Christians can’t get together on such an important and fundamental part of our Faith?

The differing dates are an example of power politics. The crucifixion of Jesus took place on the Day of Preparation for Passover. Jesus hangs on the cross and dies at the very time that the lambs for the Passover Feast are being slaughtered at the Temple. His body must be removed from the cross before the Passover begins at sundown.

In Handel’s great Oratorio – the Messiah – this image of Jesus as the Lamb of God is brought forth by using the 53^rd Chapter of the Prophet Isaiah and the 11^th Chapter of the Gospel of John. The sections are introduced by the Alto singing, ‘He Was Despised,’ which leads to the choral sections: ‘Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs,’ ‘And With His Stripes We are Healed.’ ‘All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray’ continues this exposition. Handel concludes the Oratorio and his development of this theme of Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for us in the thrilling, uplifting words taken from the 6^th Chapter of Isaiah and the 5^th Chapter of Revelation:

‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by his Blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Blessing and honour, glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, forever and ever.

If Jesus is the Lamb of God sacrificed for all of us why are we so divided?

To follow historical accuracy Easter should follow Passover. This is the Orthodox position. But the western communities followed several differing systems. In the year 387, in France and Germany, Easter was on the 21^st of March; in Italy it was on April 18^th while in North Africa it was on the 25^th of April. Unlike today, the Church at Rome held that Easter had to be between April 15^th and the 22^nd. Today’s commercial florist trying to force lilies, tulips and daffodils would love a return to that system. But until the time of Charlemagne each of the northern churches used different dates. This created the delightful situation where King Oswy of Northumbria was celebrating Easter while his Celtic wife – Queen Eanfleda was observing Palm Sunday [651].

But by the time that Rome consolidated power in the West; it felt obligated to demonstrate that power by defining the date of Easter in a different manner than the Orthodox or Celtic Churches and so we have two Easters.

Last week - on Orthodox Palm Sunday- an Armenian priest attacked a Greek priest inside the Church of the Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The Greek priest was praying too long in a certain spot. Six groups have areas in the building and those spaces are guarded carefully. The ensuing riot saw the Jewish police attacked with palm branches as they tried to control the two factions. What must the Jews and Muslims think of us? A riot inside one of Christendom’s most important sites; a riot between two groups of Christian clergy and it is not unusual.

It seems to be so far removed from the teachings of Jesus. Peter’s statement: ‘For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God…’ is all encompassing. It doesn’t say that you are damned unless you are baptized a certain way. Nor are you condemned if you make the sign of the cross left to right instead of right to left. Yet we continue to establish barriers to the love of Christ.

Jesus said not a single word about homosexuality; yet for some groups calling themselves Christians; anti gay tirades seem to be the heart of their teachings. Again this week Pastor Hagee repeated his vicious statement that God destroyed New Orleans because they planned a gay parade. God is Love not hate. Jesus did condemn divorce, yet folks can walk out on their spouses and children for younger, richer persons and still be put forth as good examples of ‘family values.’

Some very thoughtful Christian sociologists say that we are moving into a post Christian era. The first stage is when our society requires us to say we are religious, but we don’t actually have to do anything. We practicing Christians accept the strangest contradictions. We have three persons running for high office. One says, in the Northern states, and on the Web site: ‘I’m an Episcopalian.’ And, in the Southern states, claims to be a Baptist. Yet, actually, is not a member, nor attends, any church of either denomination. Another talks about a deep abiding faith and has not belonged to any church for more than twenty-five years. The only actual church going person is condemned for a statement the retired pastor made years ago. That pastor, incidentally, joined the Marines from high school; served his enlistment; then joined the Navy so he could become a medic and return to the Marines. He retired with Presidential commendations from Ronald Regan.

It has become perfectly acceptable to publicly claim to be a believing faithful Christian, yet have no connection to any community of faith. This is where religion is used as a mask. There is no substance, no faith behind that mask. It is properly called Civil Religion – something to be seen doing but without meaning or obligation. Most disturbingly society accepts these empty, meaningless announcements of faith. This past week a twice divorced, thrice married Roman Catholic former mayor received communion in defiance of Church laws in St. Patrick’s Cathedral and nothing was said. After all, he is a politician. We are headed for the European situation where the church is the place to be married; have the kid baptized and hold your funeral with nothing in between. In France less than 15% of the population attends church on any given Sunday. England has fewer than that. Even Roman Catholic Ireland finds less than 20% in the pews. In surveys in America 50% of the respondents claim to attend a religious service every week. Yet the actual numbers compiled from the churches show an attendance rate of less than 35%.

In today’s Gospel reading from John we hear: ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments.’ And what is His chief commandment?

‘Love one another as I have loved you.’

The riot in the church in Jerusalem was not caused by love, but by hatred: hatred of Christians by Christians. Hatred called forth in the name of the Risen Christ. We have wandered very far from that simple statement. ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ There are grotesque things circulating on the Internet. There are hideous letters from people and groups who do not identify themselves. All too many of these messages claim to be from good Christian sources; they are not. They are messages of hatred. They are messages of evil – spewed forth from evil sources. Their false Christian love is manifested as a spittle spray of rage.

These are people who live in fear and paranoia and demand that all others share their fears. They can only express their fears in hatred: hatred of Jews in Nazi Germany; hatred of Kurds in Turkey; hatred of immigrants with Latino names; hatred of Christians in today’s Iraq: hatreds upon hatreds. These are those who have tried to erect walls of hatred around the Messiah’s message; and for a time they do succeed. A TV evangelist says that the Roman Catholic Church is the great Whore of Babylon, and he continues to advise a national leader. Eventually the walls do crumble, but they cause such pain while they last. If we truly accept that –for us- Jesus came in love. Yet he was despised; but he willingly bore our griefs; with his stripes we are healed; and through the cross; we are redeemed; then we must ask: ‘How do we recover in our own lives the true meaning of Jesus the Messiah?’

I suggest to you that when we hear anyone or any group using the name of Christ to deliver anything but the message of acceptance and love, we must challenge the messenger and deny their message. The Epistle from the Apostle Peter says it very well:

‘Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will , than to suffer for doing evil.’

Amen