So my friends, here we are at the 2nd week of Easter, having accomplished 6 weeks of Lent – a time given us by our Church, to, in its very best sense, I believe, look at our personal lives to see how much they resemble that of our brother Jesus. And in doing that, we then can express nothing but gratitude for a God who has loved us so much as to send Jesus, to live his one wonderful life among us, showing us so completely how we should try to live ours.
The Scriptures for this week show us Jesus’ first followers living in somewhat of a “honeymoon” phase in the selection from Acts today. Wonders in the form of physical cures seem to happen miraculously simply through Peter’s shadow falling upon the afflicted. Luke, the presumed writer of Acts lets us know that “more and more believers … in great numbers” [were added to their ranks]. This had to be a heady experience for these first followers – one that they would have to come to terms with as time went on, for we who know, “the end of the story,” realize that persecution for these faithful followers will come – but for now, the wonders that they are seeing is something to marvel at.
Moving ahead to today’s gospel from John, we backtrack a bit, finding Jesus’ followers in the Upper Room, basically, “shaking in their boots” or their sandals, as the case maybe. Jesus understands their fear and within this reading speaks no less than 3x, the words, “Peace be with you” – as he wants nothing but good for them, and so gives his Spirit so that “fear” will not get in the way of them doing the good in the world that he knows each is capable of. Even though this gospel doesn’t include the words –we sense Jesus’ meaning – especially in the 2nd reading from Revelation – “Don’t be afraid” – [I will be with you always!]
I would like to briefly lift up another line from Revelation in today’s 2nd reading. John, living on the island of Patmos, the same John of the 4th Gospel, is told to “write down everything” [he sees]. I take this line in a broader sense to mean that we should continue to keep our eyes on Jesus. It seems that if each of us who claims, “to be Christian,” could do this more regularly, our world and our Church could be so much better.
Another important line from today’s Scriptures that I want to lift up for us to consider is when Jesus tells the apostles that if they so choose to “forgive the failings of others, those failings are forgiven…” – this is a broad power these 1st believers received – one that I think the hierarchy now within the Church, forget when they claim “to have no power” to do what they are being asked to do that they don’t want to do. Actually, I believe that these “powerful” words revert back to Jesus’ common practice of responding more from the heart than the head. I so long for our beloved Church, ruled by men, to respond in our world in like manner.
As you know, I always attempt to connect the chosen Scriptures for each Sunday with what is going on in our world, so as to say that these Words are meant for us today as well. This week’s news here in Winona again unearthed a tragic story of 14 years ago concerning a deceased baby found in the river in a backpack surrounded by angel figurines; thus, this little one was named by some in our community, “Baby Angel.”
The police officer in charge at the time seemed overly concerned about this case as did some Winona area residents, spending what seemed to me an inordinate amount of attention looking for “the woman who committed this crime.”
Now, 14 years later, with better genetic testing that could identify relationship, and this was done in an unseemly way, the woman has been found, arrested and the news piece this week spoke of “Baby Angel now getting justice.”
Now, I am not saying that “something bad” didn’t happen, but only, that perhaps this case calls for some mercy too. The news report spoke of no mercy nor understanding of what this story in its entirety might be about.
For several years, I have been writing to a woman in the Wisconsin prison system, whom I learned about from another minister friend—she has spent the last 38 years of her life there because at a very bad time in her young life, she tragically took the lives of her two young sons. It was a time in her life, as an abused woman, alone, frightened, and at her wits end, that she thought this was the “best” and only option in her life.
Now any of us who claim to be sane, living what we may consider, moral lives, and looking at these two examples from that privileged place, might find ourselves saying, well, it seems like justice is served.
That my friends would be the “black and white” answer to these equally tragic stories. The woman that I write to has been denied parole time and time again over these 38 years, even though she has demonstrated her diligence to better herself. She is no threat to others, yet this punitive system seems to have a need to punish her without end. In 2024 she was once again up for parole, and asked me to write a letter of recommendation for her, which I did – and we were most hopeful this time, but once again, came the denial.
And, we hear Jesus’ words in light of this, “Receive the Holy Spirit, if you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven.” I know in my heart that my friend that I write to is no danger to society, yet she can’t seem to get any mercy.
Now, I don’t know Baby Angel’s mom’s story, but I think we can probably agree that it wasn’t a good one – parents don’t do such things when life is supported and cared for. No doubt if this present case goes to trial, the true and complete story will be made known – and again, not that this woman’s action was good or right; but perhaps the good that each of us possesses as sister and brother humans can come to the fore so that a more complete justice can be arrived at. The prospect of any more punishment being dealt out in this regard seems absolutely abhorrent to me.
In all fairness and truth, it must be said that both of these tragic stories that I have mentioned today reflect the patriarchal society of our world – state and church, where women often don’t have a true voice and are made to bear the blame alone of so much evil that exists when structures of power rather than love dominate our lives.
In conclusion friends, during this exultant season of Easter, let us not forget why Jesus, our brother came to be one-with-us –that we would have a “change of heart” –striving to be our best selves for ourselves and for others. Amen? Amen!
All Are One Church 