“You defeater of death, whose power could not hold you, come in your Easter, come in your sweeping victory, come in your glorious new life. Easter us, salve wounds, break injustice, bring peace, guarantee neighbor, Easter us in joy and strength” – Walter Brueggemann
The history of the relationship between God and God’s people is one of liberation. Time and again God is about the work of releasing people – individually and collectively – from captivity. Abraham and Sarah were released from the bounds of old age and their own skepticism to give birth to a nation. Moses was inspired and empowered to release God’s people from Pharaoh’s bondage. Ezra and Nehemiah offer the fullness of release from exile in the restoration of Jerusalem.
Jesus then offers an even bolder liberation, delivering people from the bondage of a ritualistic adherence to the law, from the infirmities that held them captive, and from the limits of earthly existence into a new way of living. His disciples continued that liberation, throwing open the doors of the church by eating with gentiles, baptizing a Eunuch, and gathering people into communities for coexistence where all was shared in common and none of God’s went without.
In several of his prayers Walter Brueggemann uses this phrase, “Easter us.” It’s about liberating and releasing us, restoring and renewing us, empowering and emboldening us. “Easter us.” It’s about a new way of living, of perceiving the world, of being in relationship with God. “Easter us.” It’s about imaging beyond our mind’s captivity, believing beyond our human capacity, loving beyond our human capability. “Easter us.” It’s about living with fullness into all that God promises.
The history of the relationship between God and God’s people is on of liberation. Now is the time when God is about the work of releasing people – individually and collectively – from captivity. The world cries out, “Easter us.” Who will respond?
Peace for the journey,
Pastor Steve
The history of the relationship between God and God’s people is one of liberation. Time and again God is about the work of releasing people – individually and collectively – from captivity. Abraham and Sarah were released from the bounds of old age and their own skepticism to give birth to a nation. Moses was inspired and empowered to release God’s people from Pharaoh’s bondage. Ezra and Nehemiah offer the fullness of release from exile in the restoration of Jerusalem.
Jesus then offers an even bolder liberation, delivering people from the bondage of a ritualistic adherence to the law, from the infirmities that held them captive, and from the limits of earthly existence into a new way of living. His disciples continued that liberation, throwing open the doors of the church by eating with gentiles, baptizing a Eunuch, and gathering people into communities for coexistence where all was shared in common and none of God’s went without.
In several of his prayers Walter Brueggemann uses this phrase, “Easter us.” It’s about liberating and releasing us, restoring and renewing us, empowering and emboldening us. “Easter us.” It’s about a new way of living, of perceiving the world, of being in relationship with God. “Easter us.” It’s about imaging beyond our mind’s captivity, believing beyond our human capacity, loving beyond our human capability. “Easter us.” It’s about living with fullness into all that God promises.
The history of the relationship between God and God’s people is on of liberation. Now is the time when God is about the work of releasing people – individually and collectively – from captivity. The world cries out, “Easter us.” Who will respond?
Peace for the journey,
Pastor Steve
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