It’s Holy Week, a week we observe and honor what is written as the final week of the life of Jesus in human form. This is the week that
began with celebration as Jesus arrived in Jerusalem for the observance of Passover. Many hoped that Jesus would be the one to
free the Jews from Roman rule. The week quickly changed for Jesus as the high priests and rulers condemned his actions and
teachings. The plan to end Jesus’ ministry and his life was plotted and moved into action. By the end of the week, Jesus was
accused, tried and condemned to death on the cross. A common form of execution, Jesus was forced to carry his cross through the
city and was crucified between two thieves. As the story is well known to us, Jesus died, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and on the
third day Jesus was resurrected.
Today as I write the words and consider the impact of the story on my life, I find it interesting that I have very few words to say.
Knowing how I treasure the time of Lent and Holy week and as much as I appreciate the transformative nature of Easter, I find myself
running out of words to gather into coherent thoughts and meaningful message today.
Perhaps it is more the being than the speaking that has moved me. Being silent makes it so that I may hear more fully a richer meaning
of this sacred season. Perhaps it is the cloak of Covid-19 that moves me away from the world and into the deepest spaces of my soul
to search for all that is true for me. As I touch my Truth, all else fades away into meaningless distraction that I learn to set aside.
Perhaps it is the marking of one year of physical distancing and staying apart that calls me to yet an even more revealing space of
preparation for the day of resurrection ~ Easter.
What moves most deeply for me in this moment is knowing that I am forever changed. This may be the greater purpose of this past
year – it changes us and invites us into new ways of being. We explore new ways of thinking, communing, new ways of appreciating
all that we are and all that we have. While the thoughts and habits of the world still move in my mind and my actions are in this tangible
realm, there is more that I am called to do. There is more that we all are called to do.
As we begin to slowly emerge from sheltering at home to safely gathering, we take steps with wisdom and discernment that assure us
of wise choices and safety for all. Each person will re-enter new patterns for life as they are guided.
Each of us experience the resurrection of Easter Sunday in a variety of ways.
Easter, Pascha, Spring all converge around the same time. Spring, ushering in a season of birth, new life, and rebirth is paralleled by
the resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus was dramatic, to say the least. As we experience Holy Week, Covid-19 restrictions, or any
of the myriad of life’s experiences, we have the privilege and responsibility to choose how we emerge.
There will be people who “return to normal” and people who maintain the status quo through the Easter Season. There will be people who
see anew because of insights and awareness gained through both experiences, pandemic, and Easter. There will be people who
celebrate restrictions lifted with parties and gatherings. There will be people who celebrate Easter with a bunny, bonnets, and baskets.
The choice is always ours to make. We, through exercising our free will, determine how we emerge from the pandemic and how we move
through Easter. To all I say, blessings await whatever the choice. I pray for blessings on the journey for all people, all ways, and all
beings.
Whatever way we decide to move forward in our world; the greatest impact will be how well we love. How well we love our Mother
Earth and how well we use the resources she shares. How well we respect Father sky and care for the air we breathe. How well we
love the animals of the land, sea, and sky and see them also as sacred beings remembering that while we have dominion over them,
we are responsible for their care. How well we honor and hold as sacred all that has been given to our charge will have the greatest
impact on our world.
I believe the greatest impact is how well we love. How well we love one another, the people of the earth, all who walk the streets of our
neighborhoods makes a difference. How well we love the neighbor whose faith is vastly different from our faith – the Muslim, Jew,
Hindu, or Baha’i, Confucian, Sikh, Buddhist, or any of the forty-three hundred faith practices of the world. The gay or lesbian couple
who creates a family with parents may not look the same as our family but have made a home overflowing with love. We the people
who are cloaked in the flesh of many shades of beautiful. The beloveds who claim not male or female instead see gender as a fluid
state of being and expressing. The family that dwells within our own home, under the same roof, it matters greatly how we love one
another.
In the end, it won’t matter how we voted in any election, what side of the aisle we stand on, whether we lean right, or left, or stand at
center. What will matter most of all is how we love those who are near to us or far and distant. What matters most is the love we
nurtured within our heart and shared with all the world. The love we poured into all our thoughts that go out through the ethers, all the
words that vibrate into the space of others, and the deeds we carry out each day.
What matters most is how well we love.
Much love, many blessings,
Rev. Karen