They said nothing...

Today we celebrate Easter in a tradition that goes back to founding moments in the story of the Christian faith. No not the "Church" the faith. Just like any other faith this is a journey looking at life from a different perspective and how we change our view of reality each time we live that faith. Our perspective goes beyond what is considered rational. It encompasses the idea that we need to die in order to come to new life. Yet, this is a rationale belief as we see it happen every year of our lives when we plant seed or we see old plants die with new ones springing from the dead remains. If during our Lenten journey we have truly struggled with our lives then we have come to the cross and this day we should be able to rise into new life. But do we and if we do, do we say anything about new life in Christ? In Mark's gospel the first witnesses say nothing (Mark 16.8a) and this is where the Gospel ends everything afterwards is added.

In a couple of recent posts on social media there has been an interesting discussion on our ability to demonstrate our faith and actually say something meaningful as members of a faith group that prides itself on truth and justice. Yes, just like Christ nailed to the cross the consensus is that we too will be nailed to our respective crosses. If we thought that was safe well perhaps it is also worth our while considering the recent "National" crisis in the cricket that is in reality a few boys cheating while the actual disgrace is found in the football codes where admitted criminals are allowed to play and be hailed as heroes. Unfortunately, we appear to have lost our voices or as like as not we are afraid to open our lips in praise of what is right, in case we are persecuted. Like the first witnesses who went away too scared to say anything, we to are often too scared to say anything.

It is more real than you think.

Verbalisation and placing truths onto platforms that are readily seen by many as how we open ourselves up for scrutiny and abuse and crucifixion. More often then not this is also where we are crucified by public opinion or political reality. But then is that not what our faith demands of us...to follow Christ and to die so that we can rise into newness of life. We have to begin at the beginning of the story and follow it all the way through. We cannot pick and chose the parts that we like and discard the parts we do not. Our faith and our faith community is formed at the base of the cross. The utter truth of our having to die and rise into new life means that we need to put aside all of those burdens we carry about what others are going to say and stand in solidarity with Christ. It is on this Easter morning that we are filled with the hope of Christ's resurrection and the knowledge that our lives have changed.

This change is only comes when we acknowledge and welcome God's ever changing presence in our lives such that we can catch the truth of God's call. Only when we have been honest with ourselves will we be able to be honest with others. Once we have achieved that, then we are able to proclaim Christ is risen! Alleluia! and proclaim the truth that needs to be spoken into the world. The scandal of the cross is the love that Christ shows for the meanest of people from the cross and in newness of life. We fail to recognise him every time he presents himself to us, just as the disciples did on that fateful walk to Emmaus.  Even now we are often so full of ourselves that we forget to look at those around us to see Christ's hands outstretched asking for our love. How true the story (here [the NTD video]) as shown on social media sites is, I do not know, but I can well imagine it happening and perhaps when we recognise our own selves in the story we will admit that we crucify God to this day.