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REFLECTION: Redemptive Truths Rev. Elaine Beth Peresluha

The word liberal means to be comfortable with uncertainty. Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religious tradition- We wrestle with what is true. We prefer the uncertainty of an unfolding revelation rather than a belief in truth and meaning that was established once and for all time. Many of us respect, appreciate, and promote the life and ways of Jesus. Many of us self identify as Christians, believing a wide range of faith, values, and teachings attributed to Jesus.

Unitarians do Christianity differently than the Christianity of other churches. There is an essential reason for that. We believe it is important to keep a spiritual door open on Easter morning- every Sunday morning that offers a welcome to the person who is not appreciated or welcomed elsewhere, the gay or straight, Unitarian rather than Trinitarian, questioning, humanist atheist or agnostic.

If you believe in Jesus as a personal savior- you are welcome here. We ask all who believe in Jesus as their savior to also appreciate that you cannot necessarily assume that the person sitting next to shares those beliefs. We ask that we all celebrate the rights and worth of the non-believer or the believer sitting next to us. We welcome the Christians who are here to stand with us in affirming the rights of all people to grow into their faith and to live their faith. There are so many doors open this morning to Christian celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ- and the redemption from sin that his death upon the cross granted them. There is only one church open for the Christian and not who want to learn about and celebrate another sort of Easter. 

Jesus of Nazareth said,  “I am a road builder. For those who are yet to come I seem to be finding the path- and they will be road builders too.” Jesus was a path finder- a road builder- as was Moses before him and Eoster before him- each fable teaches us, with its own miracles. When we take time to remember and to celebrate those who went before us and prepared the way for us, they are resurrected- Our lives have been made a little easier- redeemed- by their struggles. In the same way the lives of those who come after us will be easier because of our struggles, our rising to life against all odds.

Jesus lived a humble life grounded in conscious acceptance of his purpose and faith in his living. Proclaiming love and justice, he held no judgment, positive or negative about his ministry or his personhood. He modeled self-confidence without ego- commitment without arrogance. Jesus knew who he was. He knew his limitations- he knew his power. He felt love for humanity- He felt God's love in him. His ministry was not about calling attention to himself but to the power of love and the sacredness of simple living. He walked humbly upon the earth- He did not own a fancy house. He had no advanced degree from an esteemed institution of higher education. He held no position of leadership. He wore a simple robe and sandals. His hair was not coiffed. He owned no jewels- no chariot not even horses or a goat. His power was in his humility. His power could not be taken from him- even in criminal conviction, execution, or death.

Some spirits do not seek certainty or salvation from the outside but need to discover strength, tolerance, and inspiration from the inside.

We are given life- with all its verities day-by-day, year-by-year. The fullness of human experience is discovered in finding meaning in it all. It takes courage and strength to face death, the death of our egos, and the death of a long cherished ideal, plan, or way of life. Only after such an experience of death is rebirth possible.

On the seacoast, SC secures that there is an alternative to the dominant Christian message. This church is the only place this morning where a different message of hope- and redemption is preached. The mission of our faith is to assure there is always a place for the hearts and voices that sing the praise of our human capacity to rise to life. That is our miracle! In Portsmouth, NH it is essential that we provide a welcoming place, on Easter, At Christmas every Sunday – a place where people who respect Jesus as a teacher but not as a savior or as lamb of God may come, hear the liberal interpretations of the myth and have a safe place to question their Christianity; where they are encouraged to heal or question. There are so many places this morning for those who want to celebrate the resurrection of the redeemer. We are the only church that speaks of the tombs of our own making and the redemption that comes from our ability to roll away our own stones. That offers our human hearts and hands to the open the tombs of the despairing and fearful souls.

For me, the historic Jesus is a tender hearted, tough minded Jewish

Teacher, fed up with the status quo. He was a social and religious visionary

who tried to get people to experience and value human interconnectedness,

compassion and responsibility. Jesus, with his cynic like wit, saw and

proclaimed the kingdom of heaven as entirely of this world and rejected any

authority or teachings, which restricted fellowship with others. His divinity

lies there... in his timeless values, in his courage to be prophetic and to

die for what he believed. 

Easter offers us the opportunity to affirm the worth and dignity of the historical Jesus in whatever way inspires us to be the best person we can be-With unimagined clarity, Easter inspires our appreciation of this man who offered the world so much wisdom, love, compassion and justice... We, who value his humanity, can reclaim his teachings and redeem his story amplifying the love he taught.

Respect all beings.

Be compassionate.

Take risks to help others.

And to become your whole self.

We do not have to reject of judge Christianity to be U.U. Quite the opposite! 

Our role is simply to make sure that this sanctuary is always inclusive.

We must assume each and every week that someone is here because they cannot be welcomed or comfortable in any other church. That there is someone here who needs sanctuary form the dominant Christian message that surrounds us. We can respect Christians and their beliefs and relationships with Jesus- without adopting them. We can sing the traditional hymns, read from the Bible, and celebrate that the music and the words are free for reinterpretation,

Isn’t that most essential message of Easter?

Do not run away form this holiday out of fear- celebrate the inclusiveness of this sanctuary that assures that each person has the freedom to discover the source of redemption and resurrection j for him or herself.

Together, we keep Easter by practicing inclusivity, openness, and the hospitality that is the signature message of our faith

Jesus' of Nazareth was born and died in a way natural and common to his time. His life challenged the laws and customs of Roman occupied Palestine. His words and actions were so threatening that it cost him his life. He was and is a figure so powerful and primordial that he has drawn believers and

dreamers from all land and cultures across the centuries. For some he will always be the Messiah, the Son of God. For others his power is more personal, more existential.

This is a holy place- Someone's God has stepped here, slept here, knelt here, dwelt here, spoken here of life, of death, Respect all beings. Be compassionate. Take risks to help others, and to become your whole self. Be present in every moment. Love as full as life allows. Live as fully as love allows. I love you. Let yourself be loved. Accept acceptance. Remember me.

Within each one of us lies the hope of Easter. It is a personal matter, a private affair. It is our Unitarian Universalist calling. Out of the loneliness, the terror, the grieving of our lives comes the possibility of our resurrection. It is up to each one of us to discover for ourselves and to help others learn that there is grace and renewal in our souls, seeds waiting to burst into bloom. We are their sun- we are their water- we are the life and resurrection. We are Easter.