St. Mark’s Adult Education Meeting Summary
Resurrection: Interpreting the Easter Gospel, by Rowan Williams
Chapter 1: “The Judgment of Judgment: Easter in Jerusalem”
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Discussion Led By Mike Kreutzer
Sunday, February 13, 2005
GROUP DISCUSSION: It was generally agreed that this chapter was difficult to comprehend. There were no “uninvolved bystanders” in regards to Jesus’ death. The more obvious interpretation comes from John’s Gospel where it is identified that it was the leaders who were really on trial. Jesus was the only “pure victim.” However, can you be the victim if you choose to put yourself in that position? Did Jesus think of himself as the victim? What about the cases of abused women who keep going back to their abusers? They are obviously not eager to end the relationship and have a natural desire to be loved. Note the confessions used on Ash Wednesdays:
We confess to you, Lord, all our past unfaithfulness: the pride, hypocrisy, and impatience of our lives,
We confess to you, Lord.
Our self-indulgent appetites and ways, and our exploitation of other people,
We confess to you, Lord.
Our anger at our own frustration, and our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves,
We confess to you, Lord.
Our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, and our dishonesty in daily life and work,
We confess to you, Lord.
Our negligence in prayer and worship, and our failure to commend the faith that is in us,
We confess to you, Lord.
Accept our repentance, Lord, for the wrongs we have done: for our blindness to human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty,
Accept our repentance, Lord.
For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, and for our prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us,
Accept our repentance, Lord.
For our waste and pollution of your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us,
Accept our repentance, Lord.
Restore us, good Lord, and let your anger depart from us;
Favorably hear us, for your mercy is great.
Accomplish in us the work of your salvation,
That we may show forth your glory in the world.
We are born into a culture where abuse happens. What do we do about it? The relationship boundaries between the oppressor and the victims is very fluid. Sometimes we are both and sometime we change roles. Consider when the white settlers out West oppressed the native peoples. People are still fighting over wrongs from many centuries ago. We really cannot treat everyone as equals because we as humans are not equal. Also consider the concept of forcing democracy onto other countries. How is that interpreted? What about the belief that the only way to God is through Jesus Christ. Isn’t that somewhat presumptuous? God may be known by many names. Many religions besides Christianity claim that they are the only way to God. This sets the scene for conflict and oppression. Even various groups of Christians oppress each other! People compartmentalize their love. God does not teach us to do that.
