Holy Week is here once again for those of us who adhere to the Western Christian faith. It remains one of the few festivals left unchanged in the our world, even after the onslaught of political correctness, globalization and the internet. So powerful is this celebration on the human psyche, that even in the elapsed West it still draws back thousands of people who don't attend church the rest of the year. Clearly, the Passion of our Lord holds something for us all.
Many more learned people than myself have attempted to glean the particular political meaning of Christ's betrayal, judgment, torture, and death, often pointing to the moral certitude of the religious authorities and the paranoia of the Roman state. It must also be recalled that Christ was given a death that, though horrendous, was common for criminals of the time, all while his life was exchanged for a Jewish rebel, who would very likely be called a terrorist today.
But to analyze Jesus' death politically is to only see part of the picture. Yes, there are parallels between the situation in first century Jerusalem and our own world today but these commonalities are not the reason churches are packed for the next four days out of 365 each year. Something else is stirring in our hearts.
Clues to the power of this story can be seen in the book of Acts, as the apostles are overwhelmed with hundreds of new believers from Pentecost onwards. Looking at the spiritual condition of Tiberius' Roman Empire, it's easy to see why: pagans believed the gods helped those who helped themselves, and nearly all people, regardless of conduct, ended up in the same "land of the dead" of their particular religions; even the Jewish authorities were divided on the afterlife, as well as the importance of right intention vs. right action - let alone the messiah.
Into this confused moral and spiritual paradigm, Christ preached an all loving, all powerful Father who would see that humility was rewarded and selfishness punished. And, despite all our iniquities, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit would work with each of us so that we might attain heaven by their own sacrifice - a sacrifice we celebrate on Good Friday with the death of Christ.
Of course, this is the Sunday school answer many of us were taught as children, and while it looks good in print, I believe it fails to answer why people are drawn to the Easter story.
I know that for myself, every time I go through the motions of Easter each year, I find that I am reassured there might really be redemption even for a miserable sap like me. The parable of the pharisee and the tax collector comes to mind, and I realize that in spite of all the drama the Lord is going through up on that cross, all he wants for me is to confess and be forgiven.
In fact, if I'm to be completely honest, that's what I get out of church each time I go. We human beings have terrible memories and an incredible propensity to simply believe that it's all on us, with no hope of higher help. Yet each time I attend mass, I am reminded that while I fall short of the Trinity's greatness, I have all their power and love at my disposal, if I would only ask.
Therefore, I would argue that what draws people to the Easter service is a simple, childlike hope that redemption might really be possible, even attainable. With all the violence, treachery, vice, and selfishness we encounter in ourselves and in our world, Easter offers an answer: here, at the end of all things, when all seems lost, good beats evil. Period.
I don't know about you, but I take comfort knowing that the Almighty has evil on the ropes. Yes, we will all certainly continue to fall and stumble on this journey called life. But in times of trouble let us not forget the simple truth of Easter: the war is already won.
