Easter?
While listening to the Ted Radio Hour Ruby Sales suddenly made another appearance in my life. Recently I heard a rebroadcast of an interview with her by Krista Tibbett. She, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Karl Barth and many other mentors daily pop into my conscience via the internet, radio, book or some communication vehicle. This morning I was reminded of program hosted by the Bethlehem Apostolic Tempe to deliver baskets of food for Easter dinner. Several other churches or other civic organizations may host similar programs. Some churches and other organizations have ongoing ministries to immigrants arriving at our Southern border, to those in prison, to those living with addiction, to those who need clothes, to those who need food, and to those who need the comfort of a hug or a listening ear.
Most churches which like to think of themselves as “preaching the gospel of Christ” will have reenactments of the events of the last days of Jesus. They may host daily services during which they will remind the parishioners of the teachings of Jesus. They may even remember the words of the Jesus who said that when one feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, visit the sick, or minister to those in prison you do this for me. Nice sounding words and deeds as long as none of those people disturb the dignified service. Most religious leaders will recount the His words when on the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Nicely and appropriately groomed families will leave the church feeling good and eager to enjoy an Easter dinner at home or at a local restaurant. Some will visit family members in jail; family members who are often in jail because of an addiction or other mental illness. All. class and races will not be equally represented in jail cells. Some have the means for bail or a highly talented attorney. Some people may have volunteered to work a shift at The Soup Kitchen or some other place serving dinner to those who are “food challenged”. Food challenged! Really! Why not say hungry?
In many homes warnings will be delivered to dinner guests to not discuss politics, abortion, immigration, gun rights or other topics which are likely to elicit emotional reactions.
Ironically, many who want to be “good Christians” will be the most vigilant about ensuring that Jesus is not invited to church, Sunday dinner, immigrant holding facilities, jails or other places where he would likely be arrested for disturbing the peace or the religious serenity of righteous, well behaved Christians.
Jesus would likely make those who are being called socialists or the far left seem conservative. Jesus was a radical, outspoken, rule breaking, apparent homeless, unemployed misfit who exemplified the Buddhist principle of letting go of or not becoming attached to what others said about him or even to applying the time test to this life journey. He did not write erudite theological or philosophical tombs on the meaning or purpose of life. He simply showed up with love and clarity of intentions.
Some will follow his example and show up with love in the jails, in homeless camps or park benches, in the bars or the back alleys. They may not have on their Easter church costume or intone all the “right prayers”. A few misfits might show up in Churches, synagogues, temples or the mosques. One might show up at the dinner table. Likely Jesus will show up in the body of young child who most will ignore or, at best, find cute. Likely this child will respond to some story of injustice with a simple “That is stupid.” If we are lucky we will recognize and embrace The Teacher on this Easter weekend.
Written April 17,2019
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
While listening to the Ted Radio Hour Ruby Sales suddenly made another appearance in my life. Recently I heard a rebroadcast of an interview with her by Krista Tibbett. She, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Karl Barth and many other mentors daily pop into my conscience via the internet, radio, book or some communication vehicle. This morning I was reminded of program hosted by the Bethlehem Apostolic Tempe to deliver baskets of food for Easter dinner. Several other churches or other civic organizations may host similar programs. Some churches and other organizations have ongoing ministries to immigrants arriving at our Southern border, to those in prison, to those living with addiction, to those who need clothes, to those who need food, and to those who need the comfort of a hug or a listening ear.
Most churches which like to think of themselves as “preaching the gospel of Christ” will have reenactments of the events of the last days of Jesus. They may host daily services during which they will remind the parishioners of the teachings of Jesus. They may even remember the words of the Jesus who said that when one feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, visit the sick, or minister to those in prison you do this for me. Nice sounding words and deeds as long as none of those people disturb the dignified service. Most religious leaders will recount the His words when on the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Nicely and appropriately groomed families will leave the church feeling good and eager to enjoy an Easter dinner at home or at a local restaurant. Some will visit family members in jail; family members who are often in jail because of an addiction or other mental illness. All. class and races will not be equally represented in jail cells. Some have the means for bail or a highly talented attorney. Some people may have volunteered to work a shift at The Soup Kitchen or some other place serving dinner to those who are “food challenged”. Food challenged! Really! Why not say hungry?
In many homes warnings will be delivered to dinner guests to not discuss politics, abortion, immigration, gun rights or other topics which are likely to elicit emotional reactions.
Ironically, many who want to be “good Christians” will be the most vigilant about ensuring that Jesus is not invited to church, Sunday dinner, immigrant holding facilities, jails or other places where he would likely be arrested for disturbing the peace or the religious serenity of righteous, well behaved Christians.
Jesus would likely make those who are being called socialists or the far left seem conservative. Jesus was a radical, outspoken, rule breaking, apparent homeless, unemployed misfit who exemplified the Buddhist principle of letting go of or not becoming attached to what others said about him or even to applying the time test to this life journey. He did not write erudite theological or philosophical tombs on the meaning or purpose of life. He simply showed up with love and clarity of intentions.
Some will follow his example and show up with love in the jails, in homeless camps or park benches, in the bars or the back alleys. They may not have on their Easter church costume or intone all the “right prayers”. A few misfits might show up in Churches, synagogues, temples or the mosques. One might show up at the dinner table. Likely Jesus will show up in the body of young child who most will ignore or, at best, find cute. Likely this child will respond to some story of injustice with a simple “That is stupid.” If we are lucky we will recognize and embrace The Teacher on this Easter weekend.
Written April 17,2019
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
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