Matthew 28:1-10
An Angelic show of power rolled away the stone for the women. The guards were instantly catatonic with fear, but the women received the message as the first witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus would meet them in Galilea, but Jesus then appeared to them and greeted them, and they took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Again, they were told not to be afraid, but to go and tell the disciples to meet Him in Galilea.
When those of empire experience REAL POWER, it throws them. They are afraid. They believe real power to be physical might through which to impose one’s will over another or others. They believe that it is the ability to inspire fear in the hearts of others through brutal, ruthless and vicious actions or words. When they see power that emanates from beyond themselves, they are traumatized, for they believe that they alone are entitled to such power. When they see that the power which they are witnessing counters all that they are about in the world, they are traumatized, for it calls into question everything they have believed about the world. So, they must make up stuff to deny the power that they have witnessed, in order still to appear to be the most powerful. They do the same thing with real wealth and the real and equal value of human beings.
Can we handle the power of God active in the world? When it goes against everything we want for ourselves, can we handle it? When it goes against everything that we have made ourselves believe about the world, can we handle it? When it diminishes our false sense of superiority in the world, can we handle it? We want the power and we want the glory. But to God belong the power and the glory. Any power we have is given to us, and we often abuse the little power that we do have in the world, hurting others with it and believing that we are entitled to do so.
Empire is about division, destruction and death. It divides people, destroys communities and lives and hastens death for God’s children. Empire is about abusing power over others and controlling their lives, rather than power over oneself and controlling one’s desires, dark nature and hurtful words and behaviors. The Kingdom is about shared power, so that all people have the agency needed to build their lives in a sustainable way. Empire is about keeping the glory for oneself, rather than giving it to God or neighbor. The Kingdom is about sharing the glory with God and Neighbor. Empire is self-centered and is built on a false sense of superiority over others so that one believes he/she/they are entitled to all the glory. The Kingdom of God is about the equal value of all of God’s children and giving glory to God. Empire is about the insatiable acquisition of more, always more. The Kingdom of God is about sharing generously and thus finding community wealth and well-being.
Empire leads to death, ultimately. The Kingdom of God is about Life, Life Abundant and Life Forever, always. Following the ways of empire will bring a person to stop believing in the real power of God in life. Following the Way of Jesus will bring a person to see the real power of living with one another and God, here and now in this part of God’s Kingdom and forever after in heaven. With God the final Word is always life.
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