Easter: The Inner Resurrection
March 27, 2005

Reverend Barry Bloom

his is my 3rd Easter to be your minister. I am always excited about this day, excited to put into words some of what Easter means to me.

In the past two Easters, I talked of Estere, the ancient goddess for whom Easter was named. And the pagan rituals and celebrations of the richness of the earth as it budded forth in the returning spring. The rabbit as a symbol of fertility, of course. The eggs, too. Busy bunnies and lots of eggs means “we will have many offspring who can work the fertile fields and all will prosper.” Such was the hopeful fantasy of early Europeans during this time.

Last year, I focused on the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Was it real? If so, it meant we would have to check our skepticism at the door forevermore. I quoted Joseph Campbell and Matthew Fox suggesting that the myth of the resurrection is a powerful one, but that the actuality of it unlikely.

I found another Campbell quote for this year’s sermon. It will launch us in a new direction.

“In reference to the resurrection of Jesus, the ascension. It would seem to be that somebody ascended to the sky. That’s literally what is being said. But if that were really the meaning of the message, then we have to throw it away, because there would have been no such place for Jesus literally to go. We know that Jesus could not have ascended to heaven because there is no physical heaven anywhere in the universe. Even ascending at the speed of light, Jesus would still be in the galaxy, Astronomy and physics have simply eliminated that as a literal, physical possibility, But if you read “Jesus ascended to heaven” in terms of its metaphoric connotation, you see that he has gone inward – not into outer space but into inward space, to the place from which all being comes, into the consciousness that is the source of all things, the kingdom of heaven within. The images are outward, but their reflection is inward. The point is that we should ascend with him by going inward. It is a metaphor of returning to the source, alpha and omega, of leaving the fixation on the body behind and going to the body’s dynamic source.”

So, Campbell is saying the direction Jesus went upon his death is inward, to the place from which all being comes, into the consciousness that is the source of all things. What does that mean? Well, one thing it means to me is that OUR resurrections are inner soulful ones that transpire here and now. Our transformations are of the heart and mind while we are living, before our body sack dies. What does that look like?

How many of you have hit bottom in your lives? You know what bottom is, those of you who have not had the experience. Bottom is when it hurts too much to keep going in the way that you are so you do whatever is necessary to go a new, healing direction. The most obvious example is those of us who recovered from an addiction. As an addiction grows worse over time, you become increasingly depressed, more and more things are not working, relationships are lost, jobs are lost, accidents and arrests may begin, the respect of family and friends and community diminish, the spirit shrivels, a dark defense structure of denial and rationalization spins a web of bitter isolation. Then, if one is fortunate, in the deep dark of an angry night, something snaps and the tears begin to fall. The resistance and rebellion drain out, the false pride is set aside, and you become willing to do anything it takes to be well, to walk upright in the warm sunshine of the spirit again. From darkness to light. From spiritual death to fresh new life. Resurrection!

I remember the first Easter after my resurrection. Easter, 1971. I had gone through a 30 day treatment center for my alcoholism the previous early winter. Bottom had been mercifully reached and my new inner life begun. A few months later I experienced my first spring as a resurrected soul. Oh my. What a vivid experience. The new fresh green leaves were almost blinding. The smell of the first flowers was stunning. The light of the longer days was, each day, a celebration. I was hopelessly in love with life in general and my fellow human beings in particular. I was transformed. Only a few months earlier I had cursed the light and drawn the shades tighter against it. Anger, cynicism, and negativity oozed from me daily. In my arrogance at that time I knew that I knew better than anyone about anything. I acted in mean and self-serving ways. I could care less about Easter, or any other holiday, or so I acted. It was all an act, of course. A mask to hide my increasingly fearful descent into the hell of addictive powerlessness. Those several months later, could this be the same person cavorting in the flowers? Loving life. Feeling enormously grateful to be alive. I went to Easter services that spring at the church in which I had grown up. It had seemed so boring as a child. That year it seemed precious, nurturing, soft. Cynicism turned to joy. Inner resurrection. The spiritual renewal begun which continues imperfectly to this day.

There are many poems, tales, fables, and myths about death and resurrection in addition to the Great Story of the Western world, Jesus’ resurrection. In Arabia, and other countries, is the story of the Phoenix. Gold and scarlet, with a stunning, beautiful song, it lives for 500 years. Then it builds a nest made of frankensense and myrhh at the top of a tree. In a sweet smelling outburst of flame, the bird is consumed, but out of the ashes rises a young new bird, transformed, resurrected, ready to live another 500 years.

There is the Sumerian myth of Inanna, the great queen who went into the underworld, was killed by Ereshkigal the goddess of the underworld, and her corpse hung on a hook on the wall. Three days and nights after Inanna’s death, Enki, the God of Wisdom, sent two tiny beings to trick Ereskigal into giving them the corpse. Enki then breathes the breath of life back into Inanna. It is said she was wiser by far upon her return.

The tale of the Green Knight from Celtic poetry concerns the huge green knight who comes to King Arthur’s court and challenges any of the knights of the round table to cut off his head. If they will agree, he says, he will then meet them in one year from that date at the green chapel and return the favor. Sir Gawain, then very young, is the only knight brave enough to take the challenge. Taking an ax, he cuts off the head of the green knight, who reaches down, picks up his head, and says, “I’ll see you in a year.” A year later, Gawain comes to the green chapel to meet his fate. The green knight raises his ax three times, then only nicks the back of Gawain’s neck. Gawain, virtuous, now proven courageous, honest, and faithful to his word, lived a long life as the primary protector of the realm of England. Though it was not he who was resurrected, the green knight, surely a symbol of the budding earth of spring, was regularly beheaded and sprung back to life in Celtic mythology.

There is also the phenomena of being “born again” in the Christian faith. Many Christians have had a resurrection of body, mind, and spirit in what is, at times, a dramatic change of life. The changes for many seem to be sincere, real, and to some extent, lasting. Even through skeptical eyes, some have changed so deeply and permanently it cannot be denied. Jimmy Carter, one of my saints, comes to mind.

In the latest Newsweek cover story on Jesus and the Resurrection, one I recommend to you, a recent poll is quoted in which 78% of all Americans believe that Jesus died and was resurrected on the 3rd day. Worldwide, there are now over 2 billion Christians, one-third of the world’s population. In other words, there are far more people in the world who focus on the external resurrection than on the inner one. As many of us here are among the 22% in this country who may not believe in the literal resurrection of Jesus, we need meaningful ways to celebrate Easter.

So this Easter, how about taking stock on your inner condition?

Ask:

Where are you on the journey of life? Are these tales of death and resurrection foreign to you? Has your life flowed along a placid channel of well being with little ups and downs. Or, are you caught in a painful spiral of destructive behavior which is leading you to your bottom? Most of us are somewhere in between, some ups, some downs, but living life successfully....

. . . finding peace in everyday life.

. . . enjoying deep connections with family and friends.

. . . doing meaningful work.

. . . coming here for Easter.

But if you are in a painful spiral for whatever reason, may spirit bless you and give you just enough pain that you are willing to abandon your denial and come forth into a new life this Easter!

A new life filled with aliveness, joy, and spirit. The inner resurrection of your soul, here, now.

That is indeed cause for celebration! Allelujah! Amen!