Once upon a time there were a people in exile.
A nation had placed its culture, economic livelihood, and lifestyle on the backs of Hebrew slavery. The leader of this nation was the Pharaoh of Egypt. The slaves had not always been slaves, in fact their introduction to the nation enacted a series of economic changes that saved the nation from famine. However through racism, culture, economic changes, and specifically a leader who was persuaded by the temptation of power, the Hebrews were being used as Egypt’s bitch.
People were using people in way that they shouldn't be treated
The people in exile cried, and God heard their cries.
An artist came forward who used a wooden stick to communicate that the exile was defeated. With a series of symbols, Moses communicated that the realities that underpinned the Egyptians’ world were faulted. The world in which Pharaoh had established was cruel, unkind, and not the way people should treat each other. This was not met with zero resistance. In fact the resistance escalated to the point where the Hebrew nation was cornered against a body of water that articulated the choices that that their oppressor was giving them. Be our slaves or drown yourselves.
The artist Moses planted a signpost in the sand that articulated a new way of doing things. His stick partnered with the compassion of God opened the sea. The people in exile did not drown, nor return to be Egypt’s bitch. They walked on dry ground to their freedom. And their oppressors were swallowed up.
Standing on the backs of others without their consent or blessing to get what you want is a faulted way of life. In this story, God says that those that build their life on the forced backs of others will be washed away. Moses took symbolic action that communicated how exile is defeated and that there is a different way of life.
Once upon a time there were a people in exile.
This scenario is a little more complicated as there are some layers to the exile. First of all, nationally, Israel thought of itself in exile, because it was under a larger government that only partially respected them. Rome had a sort of agreement with Israel, pretty much to keep the peace. Caesar knew that if he didn’t give Israel pockets of partial sovereignty that a revolt would happen that he could not control. So as a result, people like Herod were put into leadership because they understood the Jews enough to keep them at bay.
This wasn’t an easy way to live, and because of Israel’s history, they were looking for “a Moses” to take them out of political exile. They called this person the Messiah.
However, though Israel was experiencing political exile as Rome’s bitch, there was a subterraneous form of exile going on. Israel’s communication of who its God was, had pushed its culture, economic livelihood, and lifestyle into a class system that encouraged rejection of the other. The leaders of this movement, though very learn-ed in their history of God’s interaction with their people, were trapped into practicing a set of rituals that encouraged cultural popularity over graciousness, rejection of the sick, and other actions that eclipsed the message of God’s care for creation. Specific calendar days were spent neglecting the help of others, and the leadership kept these practice in place by either the punishment of social exile, or in some cases death. The people of Israel were being used as its religion’s bitch.
People were using people in way that they shouldn't be treated
The people in exile cried, and God heard their cries.
An artist came forward who used nature around him to communicate that the exile was defeated. With a series of symbols, Jesus of Nazareth communicated that the realities that underpinned the Religious leaders’ world (and Rome for that matter,) were faulted. The world where it was not OK to heal on the Sabbath, that wouldn’t touch a leper, that practiced ritual OVER people was cruel, unkind, and not the way people should treat each others; especially in the name of God. This was not met with zero resistance. In fact, the resistance escalated to the point where Jesus was executed on a Roman Cross which articulated the choices that that their oppressors were giving the world around them. Be our religion’s bitch or die.
The artist Jesus planted a signpost in the sand that articulated a new way of doing things. One Easter morning, a large stone in front of a tomb partnered with the compassion of God and opened up. The Messiah slotted to free a people politically from Rome had done something much more. Those who understand the significance of Easter morning realize that there is no longer a need to follow a religious, political, economic, or social organization that is based on the mistreatment of others. There is no longer a fear of drowning, or a need to return to be Egypt’s bitch. The people who understand the resurrection of Jesus walk on dry ground to their freedom of conscience.
Standing on the backs of others without their consent or blessing to get what you want is a faulted way of life. In this story, God says that those that build their life on the forced backs of others have no hold on the liberty of those that understand Easter. Jesus took symbolic action that communicated how exile is defeated and that there is a different way of life.
Once upon a time there were a people in exile.
A nation had placed its culture, economic livelihood, and lifestyle on the backs of African slavery. Nearly a century went by with the practice of human servitude within the ebb and flow of 15 presidents in leadership. Since the establishment of the United States, slavery was a controversy that was firmly planted in the ground of the southern states.
People were using people in way that they shouldn't be treated.
The people in exile cried, and God heard their cries.
On April 12, 1861 a war began that defended two thought patterns: One that said “this nation must be built on the backs of human servitude”; and one that disagreed with this axiom. Nearly 620,000 people died to uphold these ideas. Swords clashed against swords, swords hacked at bone and flesh, guns and bayonets ended the lives of those on both sides. Though the north won the war, it took more than 100 years to work out the kinks of what it meant. Because of the color of skin, there continued to be prejudice, cultural fear, economic detriment, and separation.
People were still using people in way that they shouldn't be treated.
The people in exile cried, and God heard their cries.
A group of artists came forward who used a bus seat to communicate that the exile was defeated. With a series of symbols, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Thurgood Marshall, and the Little Rock 9 communicated that the realities that underpinned the white United States world were faulted. The world in which Jim Crow had established was cruel, unkind, and not the way people should treat each other. This was not met with zero resistance. In fact the resistance escalated to the point where leaders were incarcerated and highschool children were kept at bay by attack dogs and high pressure water from fire hoses. This articulated the choices that that their oppressors were giving them. Stand down or we will make you stand down.
The artist Martin Luther King Jr. planted a signpost in the sand that articulated a new way of doing things. His “I have a dream” speech partnered with the compassion of God opened civil rights legislation for this country. The people in exile did not continue to be hosed down. They walked on dry ground to equality.
Standing on the backs of others without their consent or blessing to get what you want is a faulted way of life. In this story, God says that those that build their life on the forced backs of others will lose moral highground, and ultimately be seen for what it is. Rosa, Martin, and the others took symbolic action that communicated how exile is defeated and that there is a different way of life.
We don’t live in a perfect world. In fact that is the point of what I am saying today. We live with exile all around us. Because of the way people are they are tempted to ALWAYS act like lobsters in a pot - consistently pulling each other into the boiling liquid so that we ourselves can escape, or be on top. It is our Job as a church to look at how people are treated and speak out symbolically against life “OK” with exile. We as people who understand the meaning behind Easter Sunday, must realize that we are free. Free from political, religious, social and economic underpinnings that demand the mistreatment of others. We are the bearers of this news. We are St. Francis’s naked body it the snow in opposition to the money that won’t be given to the beggar. We are to look for the bus seat that will make the tired Rosa Parks Sit and rest and make it into space for the weary traveler. We are to oppose the mistreatment of others to our death, even death on a cross.
What are symbolic ways of articulating God's image on a world that is slotted against this?
How do we enact healing and forgiveness in a world that only acts on payment for services rendered?
Are we slanted toward power, or love of the person that is closest to us in vicinity (neighbor)?
Are we slanted towards humans turned in on themselves, or towards real relationship in which difficult confrontations and healing occurs?
We must plant signposts in the sand that articulate a new way of doing things. And when people ask, “what are you doing?” Which is what they ask of all of these artists. Answer them with a fresh story about the human race being welcomed back from exile. And maybe if you look beyond the artist, you can see a loving God that inspired them to paint their picture.
If this line of thinking inspires you, Today I would like you to do two things.
I would like you to meditate on a current form of exile that effects you, or that you are exposed to every day. And I would like you to come up with some sort of symbolic act that communicates that this form of exile is defeated. And if you have the guts to do it, Post the results here.
