Sonrise

Betrayed, tortured, executed, and abandoned. The betrayer taking his own life. And a wealthy follower provides the burial, his close friends deny and flea into the shadows, awaiting the knock that can mean the end of their own life. This is the journey from Good Friday through Holy Saturday, a time of disruption and not knowing, of non-entities being further oppressed (and why, this year it is such a healing moment the church can embrace that Trans Day of Visibility, and Easter share the calendar).

As the sun is coming up, the women come, after having watched the tomb sealed by Empire so as to ensure the story of Creator Sets Free return (like Lazarus, Father Martin SJ’s most recent book explores this story wonderfully) could not happen.

or could it?

Then, on the first day of the week following the Day of Resting, as the sun began to rise, Strong Tears (Mary) of the village of Creator’s High Lodge (Magdala) and Brooding Tears (Mary) went to see the burial cave.

2Suddenly the earth began to shake, and a spirit-messenger from the spirit-world above came down from the sky, walked to the burial cave, rolled the stone away—and sat down on it! 3He was shining as bright as a flash of lightning, and his regalia was pure white like freshly fallen snow.

4The soldiers staggered back, trembling with fear, and fell to the ground like dead men.

5-6“Do not fear!” the spirit-messenger said to the women. “The one you are looking for is not here. Creator Sets Free (Jesus), who was killed on the cross, has come back to life again—just as he said. Look! Here is where they laid him. 7Now hurry and go tell his followers that he has risen from the dead. Tell them he is going ahead of them to Circle of Nations (Galilee), and they will see him there. Now remember what I have told you!”

The words echo, in the Gospel of Mark (16:4-8), the original ending is simply:

But when they arrived, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled away. 5When they went inside the burial cave, they saw a young man, dressed in a pure white garment, sitting to the right side of the cave. This filled the women with fear that covered them like a blanket.

6“Do not fear!” the young man said to them, “The one you are looking for is not here! Creator Sets Free (Jesus) from Seed Planter Village (Nazareth), who was killed on the cross, has returned to life. See for yourselves. Here is where they laid him. 7Now go and tell his followers, and Stands on the Rock (Peter), that he is going ahead of them to Circle of Nations (Galilee). It is there that they will see him again—just as he told them.”

8Terror and amazement came upon the women, and they ran as fast as they could from the burial cave

This idea of leaving the empty tomb, and the question left before us what would we do? How do we empower and elevate the voice, that was beyond voiceless at this time, as it was the women’s voice?

Much like the Trans voice today as both corporate, political and religious empire attempt to silence and exterminate from the commons, and yes even from existence (just note the rise of misinformation and violence towards this group of siblings in humanity). This is where the beautiful alignment of the risen Christ, the Sonrise, and Trans Visibility Day matters for healing (actual justice work in our world), and I do pray that the church as whole answers the prayer.

As we can be like the women at the empty tomb (as one online meme phrased it, we’re going biblical this Sonrise, only women may attend, but I digress), as the community of John shares, as the Empire tried to continue to spin misinformation and hide away what had happened:

The women ran from the burial cave to bring the good news to his followers. Their hearts were trembling with fear and great joy. 9Suddenly, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) was standing in front of them.

“It is a good morning!” he smiled and said to them.

They came close, held tightly to his feet, and gave great honor to him.

10“Do not fear!” he told them. “Go and tell my brothers to go to Circle of Nations (Galilee), and there they will see me.”

Showing the true belonging community, where all voices were heard… and welcomed… For the Imageo Dei is a beautiful and wonderful mosaic.

This Easter/Trans Day of Visibility may we embrace and live into this calling.

Do We get more than one life?

Brightest Day is the follow up “Event” to DC Comics story- Blackest Night. Both phrases taken from the Oath of the Green Lanterns. Essentially a cosmic space opera with Super Heroes, Blackest Night saw the dead rise, and attempt to take over the universe. They failed, and 12 fallen were resurrected which kicked off Brightest Day.

This series came back on to my radar, thanks to Indigo Spirit in Market Mall here in Calgary doing a “blind date with a book” fundraiser for Christine Meikle School. Blind Date is paying $1 and up for a book wrapped up in newsprint, all monies go to help the school for special needs students. Volume 1 of this series was one of the treasures.

At first the reflection that hit me, was, what is the purpose of a second chance? A new life or lease of life? The other side of a pilgrimage through darkness, transformation, into the new light of life? Or simply, the new reality that has happened as a result of loss, illness, or other points of grieving?

These are all valid questions to reflect upon, as each of these points of life, along with the age milestone traditions of old and new (confirmation, baptism, communion, Bar/Bat-Mitzvah, Grade 6 Graduation, Grade 9 Graduation, deciding whether or not to drive, High School Graduation, and many of other cultures/religions that I am not acquainted with, but also family ones as well)… each is the view port into new life. A new life in you. A decision, a path to choose from, and a reason to ask what built to this moment, and what is to come.

Within the story to, there is another point, the villain digs up the Hawks (Hawkman & Hawkgirl’s) bones. I say bones, because they are ancient Egyptian Royalty constantly reincarnation to find their soulmate. Now, this is not to discuss whether or not one believes in reincarnation or resurrection. But I do want to pause. Throughout my healing journey I have looked back on my life, and realized it was many lives. Not over centuries, but rather in my 41 years I have had many lives and careers. Each one growing me to this moment.

This now.

As one takes time to look back, we can easily slip into this idea of regrets. Yes there are bonehead moments, and downright stupidity, there are times when we have harmed or been harmed, time of joy, love and hope. Here’s the thing. The journey, not the destination was the key.

Why?

The destination is constantly moving, for we are constantly moving, learning, growing, changing and transforming into our more authentic self. The question is in our journey do we choose fear or hope.

At this point of the journey, this destination, the question is simple to you:

Do you choose Blackest Night or Brightest Day?