Recently the word disruption has been much in my thoughts. It is not only the continuing impact of covid, or those horrific scenes in Ukraine, or the images of lorries queuing at Dover; and it is not only the stories of women and girls in Afghanistan, or the disruption of climate change across our world, or the disruption of famine, or the encounters on my recent visit to Israel-Palestine; and it is not only the impact of serious illness on people’s lives, or the coming and going of people, or the disruption people are facing in different contexts across our Diocese; It is also the events of that first Holy Week.
Jesus’ friends followed careful instructions as they prepared for Passover, only to find their plans disrupted by Jesus’ talk of pending betrayal and death; the unsettling action of him washing their feet, and a prayer time in Gethsemane disrupted by betrayal and a hostile arrest.
Peter initially tried to control the disruption, but later he fled. Pontius Pilate chose to wash his hands of it, and Judas couldn’t bear the realisation of his part in the disruption so he hanged himself. So few of Jesus Christ’s followers stayed close to him amid the cruel disruption of crucifixion and death. Yet in all places and experiences of disruption, whether seemingly good or bad, whatever else we do, the call is to stay close to Jesus Christ.
That first Good Friday the disruption that human sin and brokenness causes in the lives of individuals, communities, countries, and creation, was met by the disruptive love of God more powerful than even death itself. The disruption of darkness over the land was met by a violent earthquake and the ripping of the temple curtain. Then three days later came the inexplicable shifting of a heavy tombstone and the momentous resurrection of the Son of God. Holy disruption.
In the hours and days around these events, the followers of Jesus Christ displayed all those natural (and sometimes necessary) reactions and responses to disruption: fleeing, hiding or striving to control. Yet they failed to stay close to Jesus Christ and to seek the face of God.
As I was beginning to prepare for Holy Week, focusing my thoughts on disruption, I found myself testing positive for Covid! Amid my disappointment and frustration I know I cannot control, just as I cannot flee (although the temptation is simply to hide). Yet the invitation is to embrace my vulnerability and stay close to Christ, and to watch for the disruptive signs of God’s love. In all of this, I want to refer back to that spattering of examples of disruption with which I began, because in each of them there is an ‘and yet’ with people living hope and love.
Thank you for the life in which we share. May God bless you in these days ahead as we stay close to Christ, watching and praying. I wish you a joyous and hope-filled Easter disrupted only by the love of God.
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Thank you – enjoy Easter!