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.

Week of Love

Or more aptly until sundown as Christmas Eve falls of the fourth Sunday of Advent. Yet, one does ponder the power of the story, The rhythm. The imagery.

The brightest light

born at the darkest time.

Why Dec. 25? Does it matter unless you are in a literalist mindset? Some say it is when Christendom became Empire and absorbed the Empire Pagan Days, some have postulated it predates that, as they Early church aligned Jesus conception and crucifixion, which leads to the Western Church having the birth on Dec. 25 and the Eastern ones on January 8.

Does it matter?

How close do details matter in love?

Love, a baby that would grow radically, one physician recorded a birth in a barn, surrounded by the outcasts of society and creation, a fallen tax collector redeemed recorded mystics and royalty seeking a baby by a star, and a mad religious oppressor empowered by Empire to massacre baby boys (an echo of the Moses story of another people trapped in Empire), and a fleeing to another land (back into Egypt) as refugees (how many current events mirrors this even currently, Ukraine, Sudan, Ehtiopia, Palestine).

A fight over a historic or mythic figure, missing the point of mystic history. Knowing Jesus was real, knowing that he was holy, and knowing some of it is on faith. A baby born to a woman immaculately conceived if we go with the Roman story. Or a baby conceived of the Holy Spirit with a woman, whose husband decided not to cast her out to certain abuse, trafficking and death or a simple stoning, but to engage as earthly daddy. Sent by God as some propeciation of sins? Or is it another take, a girl, a victim of non-personhood by the occupying Empire, and carrying a soldier’s baby, blessed, as that baby would grow through the system and so radically challenge the system that the system could find no other way to silence his justice, healing, giving, peace, joy, hope and love.

Than to execute him.

But it did not silence the radical love.

The followers were not following a false prophet or messiah or Christ.

For they hid,

and they rose.

All in a simple image, crafted by a mendicant, friar, Francis of Assisi centuries ago,

billions will bear witness to the final act of love

whatever story of transfiguration brought you to the creche

live or novelty

at Sundown

The Sonrises.