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Christ has died.
Christ has risien.
Christ will come again.
This is the ancient mantra of the church and one I sorely miss hearing on Easter Sunday. There is a dear couple in the church I attend who know to greet me on Easter Sunday with the call and response “He is Rien” and “He is risen indeed!” But other than that, I haven’t experienced an Easter Sunday that pleased me since I was a pastor. Which has made me wonder if those worship services I planned each Easter were as pleasing to others as they were to me!
For me, it was the worst Sunday to preach because the church was packed with people for whom this would be their one experience of the year to worship. How can anyone understand the mystery of the resurrection much less celebrate it without the daily, or at least weekly experience of life in Christ? For that matter, how do any of us begin to understand.
And so the ancient ritual words are what have meaning to me. Words said by those first disciples in the throes of it all, their lives turned upside down, never to be comfortable or stable again, their lives each ended in martyrdom because their experience of the holy was in their very bones.
I’ve been out of commission for a bit of time here but not out of touch with the meaning of these Easter words. My daughter was here to visit for a week. On Easter evening, we sat in the hot tub and looked up at the stars. Then we sang the old Easter hymns I love so much: “Up from the Grave He Arose,” “The Strife is O’re, the Battle Won,” “I Serve a Risen Savior” and “Were You There?” Hymns that I have sung since I could barely talk have never sounded so good to me. I’m not sure if the neighbors would agree!

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I wrote this four years ago. Given our present “world system” and common anxiety, I thought it worth re-posting:

Many years ago, I was introduced to the concept of the “Abuse” or “Co-dependency” Triangle. I have come to think of it as a visual description of sin. Imagine a triangle. At the top of the triangle put the word “Oppressor.” At the left corner put the word “Victim.” At the right corner, put the word “Savior.” Keep that in mind for a few moments. Then think of a troubled relationship in your life. Which of those roles do you play? This can be a personal relationship, a relationship with your job or your church and then finally your relationship with God. Take a few moments to process this thought before you read on.

I believe this concept of God as Savior within the context of this abuse triangle has perpetuated a great mis-understanding of the purpose of life and the purpose of salvation. We miss the gospel itself when stuck in this way of seeing life. We even conceive our country in this way, either as looking to government to save us or to see our country as the world savior. This is so ingrained in our world view that it is hard to think of life any other way. According to the theory, the only way out of this disastorous way of living, is to embrace this paradox: Take total responsibility for your life AND know that you are only a small part of a much bigger picture. I believe that is the salvation of Jesus the Christ: not a rescue from external oppressors, not permission to oppress anyone who doesn’t see life as we do, not a requirement to rescue everyone in our path.
I know I’m getting a little abstract here but bear with me. The concept of the Mystery of the Trinity is basic to orthodox and historical Christianity. It seems most churches and pastors have a great deal of trouble even acknowledging this mystery. In my church, we sing the Gloria Patri and the Doxology for which I am thankful but any sermons I’ve heard on the Trinity have to do with identifying with one of the Three Persons or comparing the Trinity to 3-in1 oil or an egg. I think we’re better off just singing our praises to this which we do not understand.
For me, it has been embracing the Trinity in all It’s mystery that has countered my own sin-triangle with a holy cleansing. Living life in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit…..meditating in the knowledge that I am one with the Creator, the Redeemer and the Sanctifier…..even more ancient is the Sanskrit understanding of God as Tat, Sat and Om. I begin my mediation time with a ritual of remembrance as I stand before three candles, I cross myself in the eastern tradition and know I am in the presence of that which creates all, that which was incarnated in a woman’s womb, that which binds me to eternal life – I let this mystery that is greater than my sin embrace me and fill me and breathe through me. One resource in particular has been very helpful in this regard: Richard Rohr’s The Divine Dance . This is a set of four CD’s. Do not listen to this while you are driving! The depth of mystery to be experienced and holy presence is not compatable with driving. I went five exits past my destination the first time I listened. l close with this: This is the prayer by Richard Rohr that comes with the CD:

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