This month marks 15 years since nearly 1 million people in the largely Christian nation of Rwanda were ethnically 'cleansed,' that is to say, brutally slaughtered. UN Ambassador Susan Rice shared with the UN about her experiences 15 years ago as a member of Clinton's National Security Council.
As I reflect on this violent end to so many lives, I can't help but consider it in light of Lent and Holy Week. This Friday we mark the day that Christ was 'cleansed,' slaughtered by the powers that be in order to keep the religious and political realities alone. A new King of the Jews posed problems for the reigning one and for the Roman authorities. This Sunday at UALC, the preaching text is the account of the resurrection from St. Mark's Gospel.
Here, in Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago, just like in Rwanda today, hope and fear are meeting. Actually, hope and fear are never far apart. With so many nations and regions, families and individuals living in vulnerable circumstances, war and genocide, death and abuse are never out of the realm of possibility. But even in those places, hope takes root. As the women go early to the tomb to help Jesus maintain some dignity in death (by anointing, by covering the stench of decay), they are met with fearful news. Jesus isn't there. They are afraid, amazed, distressed, terrified, confused! They are told to though to not be afraid, but instead to hope. But this hope is not passive, it is active! The hope involves a 4 day walk back to Galilee where the resurrection will be revealed.
Don't be afraid. Hope. Act. Hope and fear met at the manger; they met too at the cross. Hope and fear are meeting in Rwanda, and in many unsettled and unsafe homes and neighborhoods. But where hope and fear meet, Jesus lives. Just as the old Christmas hymn has it, 'the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.'
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