Pasg hapus

[theatokos]

I love Easter. The whole point of Christianity is the resurrection. It's one reason I enjoy the Eastern Orthodox Church: their emphasis on resurrection and less on the crucifixion. I believe in humans' ability to resurrect themselves, not in some far off, 'one day', after the rapture kind of a way, but in the Here and Now sort of way: second chances, moments of deep renewal, catharsis, initiation - all little (and some times big) experiences of resurrection. I like the metaphor of spring, that every year without fail new growth arrives. Today is so perfectly delightful here. While playing with Bennett in the park this afternoon I enjoyed the warmth of the sun, I noticed all the daffodils in bloom, and noticed all the little pink, yellow, white, green buds on anything and everything that grows. I actually got a thrill from hanging the laundry out on the line to dry in the sun. But I don't think this burst of spring captures the momentousness and enormity of the resurrection. I don't mean that last phrase to suggest that it's because Jesus is the One and Only saviour. I don't really believe that any more. He's real AND a symbol. I think he's the saviour and also not the only one. The deeper I dive into Christianity, the more I swim around in my own experience, I find that the only way to interpret Jesus is in the both/and context. Resurrection, transformation, union with the Divine, obliteration of dualistic thinking, renewal, enlightenment, liberation: all these things come to mind when I think of Easter.

I am a little disappointed that I didn't go to church today. I am so ambivalent about attending and participating and committing in the life of a church. I count participating as committing. I make too much of it, this much is true. I'm almost ready to accept that I will always be one of those 'floaters,' those people that church ministers go to conferences to try and figure out what needs they need met or topics they want to hear in sermons so they'll join and tithe and all that. I am perhaps one of the most religious people I know and yet.... I just can't seem to join in.

Today's Easter started with sun salutations. It has involved hiding the eggs I dyed red in beet juice, once in the living room and once at the park. Bennett loved it. He's eaten an ungodly amount of eggs today. It will end with burritos.

I wish all of you a blessed day, regardless of what you do or don't celebrate.

Comments

[seaivy.livejournal.com]

One of my art teachers had a theory, when we were studying the more gory crucifixion paintings, that Europe got fixated on the crucifixion in response to the plague.
As a child I had a deep dislike and fear of crucifixes.

My question became - Did he really rise again from the dead? It is so central to Christianity.
Would God become man?
And that of course is the root of the christological controversy and heresies of the first two centuries.
Mary became the Theotokas as a response to a heresy that said he was only man. And there were riots in the streets.
But the whole of the Christian expression is a lovely metaphor.

Our son loved Easter egg hunts. We did it over and over and over all day. First we hid and he found. Then, he hid and we found. And again and again and ...
We used real eggs until the year he couldn't remember where he hid one and it did not reveal itself - pungently - till weeks later.
Easter egg hunting was a family tradition into his teens.

As they say in the Poland of my ancestry in greeting on this day --- Christ is risen - He is truly risen.
Love and Joy are good for all and are the heart of the Easter Message!

Blessings!

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

'Would God become man?' Why not? We are not as depraved as the more controlling sects would have us believe. We are embodied. Why wouldn't a god want to be embodied? And how else to get the vast majority of humanity to embrace divinity? Spirit and matter are not opposed.

Christos anesti! That's Christ is risen in Greek!

[amyura.livejournal.com]

I love this post. Alleluia. He is risen indeed.

[amyura.livejournal.com]

Oh, I wanted to add.....I didn't do church at all this year over Lent. I'm feeling too conflicted, wanting NOTHING to do with Catholicism, wanting to fit in and belong at an Episcopal or UCC church, but not wanting to make a bad impression with my badly-behaved kids. But also for many of the reasons you listed.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Your kids are badly behaved? I find that hard to believe! Man, church. I don't know what to say or think or do. So....I'll keep doing nothing. For now.

[(Anonymous)]

This is a great post! Amen.
...and...He's not here! ho ho!

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

I wanted to call you and ask "Hello? Is Jesus there?" But I realized the time difference wouldn't work out so well. Hee hee.

[(Anonymous)]

Nope. Not here. Risen. :-)

[keypike.livejournal.com]

I believe in humans' ability to resurrect themselves, not in some far off, 'one day', after the rapture kind of a way, but in the Here and Now sort of way: second chances, moments of deep renewal, catharsis, initiation - all little (and some times big) experiences of resurrection.

I found this very inspiring.

I'm glad you had such a wonderful day!