Provoking love: A Holy Week Reflection
“And by a perversion of Justice he was taken away…” - Isaiah 53:8, NRSV
On the evening before Christ was arrested and taken before a council to determine his fate, he ate with the people. Jesus knew that his “antics,” as deemed by those in imperial authority, would lead to a culminating moment; a rupture for a better world. At least, that is what Jesus was told and instructed to do. We know from the biblical text that Jesus’ fear and uncertainty didn’t leave him as the son of God. He kneeled in the garden and pleaded for God to take this rupture moment away from him Luke 22:32, NRSV). In fact, we also know from scripture that the grief was so palpable in anticipation of the unknown the disciples were weighed down by their grief into a deep sleep (Luke 22:45-53).
Can you imagine not knowing the future injustices potentially coming because of the efforts toward liberation?
History shows us, and even physics, that with every action there is a consequence - or more usefully named - a reaction.
Last night, on Maundy Thursday, I couldn’t help but see a correlation between Jesus’ meal with the disciples and those within and outside the Tennessee state house as Rep. Justin Pearson, Rep. Justin Jones, and Rep. Gloria Johnson faced expulsion from the house for protesting alongside their constituents after yet another mass shooting.
The youth of Tennessee were in groves outside of the chamber standing, sitting, laying down for over 10 hours in support of their elected lawmakers and to send a message: we will not forget this. What would Jesus have felt if such a crowd existed at his arrest, court appearance, and death? Is this the hope of Jesus’ journey to the cross and resurrection thereafter?
Perhaps the hope of this lenten journey to Easter is as the people of God we would chose not to pick up the burden of suffering, but instead, the reality of our created kin-ship to one another and say, “the people united can never be defeated!”
What we witnessed in Tennessee last night was a visible display of racism’s entrenched grip on the roots of this nation (formed by and through enslavement) and systemic oppression to undermine true democractic process - or more importantly - freedom. Rep. Gloria woke up today still a house rep, while her two Black colleagues did not.
The youth gathered chanted and rallied for the entire process yesterday evening. And held a press conference post expulsions. They will not forget this moment and they will not let us. They are seeking liberation and they are provoking us to love in faith and action.
Hebrews 16: 24-25 says, “And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
The provocation of love is here amongst us and that is the hope of our somber walk to Easter Sunday that I hold near. I believe we witnessed democracy die last night in Tennessee, but the youth of this moment will resurrect it.
The question is will we walk with them?