REFLECTIONS: Heroes and Their Fall From Grace
Rev. Dr. Elaine Beth Peresluha
Palm Sunday ushers in the holiest week in the Christian year, the week that walks Jesus from his heroic entry into Jerusalem to his death on a cross. This week reflects on all the important themes of human existence, life, death, suffering, and rebirth. It is a week that can make Unitarian Universalists cringe. This is a rubber meets the road week- for Christians, and for not-
Do you or believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
Do you believe that his death has redeemed you from our sins?
Do you believe that his resurrection assures human beings of eternal life?
Do you believe that human beings are all born in sin?
Palm Sunday, Easter- give us a chance to make peace with our beliefs about Jesus, life, death, rebirth and resurrection- maybe even organ music. Being surrounded by the images of Easter, in a predominantly Christian culture, inspires us- or irritates us- to intentionally reexamine its themes. If we allow our Unitarian understanding of Jesus- or our humanist and agnostic resistance to the Christian myths to continue without reflection, we could miss the benefits of processing the universals themes they represent. We could miss this valuable source of meaning and purpose.
Jesus did not necessarily intend to save the world. He stepped into that temple about 2000 years ago just trying to do what was right. The story is told that Jesus entered in by the broad light of day and went directly to the temple courtyard. In front of the temple, in front of the fortress, he taught the people around him about love of God and Love of neighbor. In front of the Pharisees and Sadducees, the Romans, his enemies, he demanded that the poor be taken seriously. He overturned the moneychanger's tables, destroying the profits and the authority of the Pharisees! He talked about a kingdom, which would come soon-, scaring the Romans into thinking that they were going to be conquered.
One of the congruent aspects of all the world's religions is that they are intended to inspire us to let go of ego- they revere the sacrifice personal needs in the quest for spiritual understanding. Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed- the Gods and Goddesses of ancient myths all endured a time of questioning, of struggling with the suffering of the world, the meaning of life, from which they emerged triumphant- knowing, understanding, assured of their purpose in life.
Jesus of Nazareth raised the wrath of Jews and Romans alike through his unwavering convictions and faithfulness to what he perceived as the right way to live in the world. Love thy neighbor- put spiritual matters before material gain- feed the poor, clothe the naked- For that, he was judged, convicted, tortured and executed.
Heroes do not necessarily set out to be heroes- More often, they set out to free themselves from insignificance- from complacency- to confront some hurt or injustice, to discover and to be true to what it is that they believe to be right.
Jesus of Nazereth did not set out to save the world from its sins.. The story is told that After 40 days and 40 nights in the dessert he felt inspired by new purpose and direction. He knew what he believed he had to do to live a meaningful life..
One of the congruent aspects of all the world's religions is that they inspire letting go of ego- the sacrifice of personal needs in the quest for spiritual understanding. Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed- the Gods and Goddesses of ancient myths all experienced a time of questioning, of struggling with the suffering of the world, the meaning of life, from which they emerge triumphant- knowing, understanding, assured of their purpose in life.
Joseph Campbell defines a hero as someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. He specifically says "to" not for. That is because heroism is not about dying- it is about living. Jesus, Martin Luther King, Jr., Franklin D. Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart, Gandhi, Malcolm X- all were heroes, not because of their dying, but because of their living. They lived by extending themselves, risking unequivocally, status, money, life itself, in selfless conviction. He says that to die without regret,
“… We each have to find what best fosters the flowering of our humanity in this contemporary life and dedicate ourselves to that."
It is sometimes hard for the world to live with such heroes. Seeing self-fulfillment conviction, courage or compassion in another can raise a sense of inadequacy- "What am I doing with my life?"
To ease that discomfort, people confront and tear down the personhood of the hero. Look at the violent responses to health care reformers, legislators that took a stand, Pres. Obama’s initiatives- Think about the multiple published attempts to tarnish the lives of past presidents, their spouses or intimate relationships. Run down the long list of assassinations. We do not have to look at our racial prejudices exposed by Martin Luther King - because he was a womanizer- or we invalidate Hillary Clinton’s qualifications on health care reform because she might have been mixed up in some shady real estate deal. Mother Theresa's work with the poor has been criticized by some because she did not take a political stand against poverty and class discrimination in India. She has been criticized since the publishing of her memoirs and confessions of doubt- her vulnerable confessions of the dark night of her soul.
We are, all of us, capable of sabotaging the hero- those around us and those heroes waiting within us. Whenever we waver in our convictions- we crucify the hero. Whether it is by remaining silent when someone uses a racial slur- or a homosexual joke or by failing to give our time, our voice or our money to what we believe in. Whenever we do not take the time to know what is most important to us- whenever we give in to our fear of inadequacy- we crucify the hero.
Audrey Lord said: "When I dare to be powerful- to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important that I am afraid."
In her poem Revolutionary Patience, Dorothee Solle writes about Jesus- about all heroes-
He gave answers to questions they didn't ask
Sometimes they didn't dare
Open their mouths anymore
Not because they hadn't understood
He was taking from them
Everything sacred and safe.
He offered no guarantees
Fire was not sacred to him or neon
Not singing or silence
Not fornication or chastity
In his speech foxes, bread dough
And much mended nets became sacred.
The down and out were his proof
And actually he had as much assurance
Of victory as we in these parts do
None.
Vincent Van Gogh was a hero. Amelia Earhart was a hero, Jimmy Carter is a hero, and Rosa Parks is a hero. But heroes are not just the famous people who fill the pages of history books. The man who buys and drives an electric car is a hero. The person who gives up fame or fortune to join the police force because she wants to make a difference in the work of justice, is a hero- the person who chooses to give up job security to stay home to write that novel that has been calling him, is a hero. The man who ignores the taunts of his buddies and refuses to drive drunk- is a hero. The grandmother who fulfills her life long dream by learning to play the trumpet- is a hero. The young boy who sticks with the dance lessons even though his friends laugh at him- is a hero.
Unitarians and Universalists do not claim allegiance to one hero whom we worship as a savior- Instead, we affirm all heroes whose lives reflect the principles and purposes of our faith. Our tradition encourages each individual to form their own convictions; to think critically based upon their own experience and then... to live authentically out of those convictions.
Heroes are courageous in their commitment to expose the failures of familiar illusions, the false importance of our own choosing. They are imperfect human beings no more or less than we are- who have humbly let go of the need to be perfect. They have freed themselves from the bondage of social norms and the demands of their egos by being committed to a deeper purpose. Heroes call us to be our best selves.
We are all heroes in this room- just waiting to show up- somewhere- dormant or active in each of us is the person who yearns to have courage enough to risk, selflessly, for something of meaning. This morning- this week- be dedicated to heroes-to the Jews celebrating Passover and the heroic flight from Egypt- to Jesus and other prophets who's courageous living and dying inspires us- to the heroes all around us who need our support and ... and most of all- to the hero in our own hearts. Make your peace with palms- embark on the adventure of the hero, the adventure of being truly alive.
SHARING OUR PEACES
Please, sit for a moment with your heroes… then if you choose, turn to the hero sitting on your right or on your left- and say Shalom.