In Katharine Jefferts Schori’s Easter missive, the message of Jesus’ Resurrection is like the seed scattered among the thorns: it is choked by weeds – green weeds.
In reading her Easter guide to spring planting, I remain uncertain as to whether or not the gardener is Jesus. I note the lack of a capital “G”. He himself is planted and then spring[s] up green, so my abiding suspicion is that this is nothing other than a roundabout way of encouraging churches to enhance their electrical plant by installing more rooftop solar panels.
Meaning does occasionally struggle defiantly to raise its head in this epistle, but it is ruthlessly suppressed by the keen mind of the Presiding Bishop.
You can read the whole panegyric to Easter shrubbery here:
She peers in once more – who are these, so bold appearing? “Fear not, woman… why do you weep?” She turns away and meets another, who says the same – why do you weep, who are you looking for? This gardener has himself been planted and now springs up green and vibrant, still rising into greater life. He challenges her to go and share that rising, great news of green and life, with those who have fled.
Still rising, still seeking union with Creator, making tender offering to beloved friends – briefly I am with you, I am on my way. Go and you will find me if you look.
The risen one still offers life to those who will look for evidence of his gardening – hope, friendship, healing, reunion, restoration – to all who have been uprooted, cut off, to those who are parched and withered, to those who lie wasting in the desert. Why do we weep or run away when that promise abides?
We can find that green one, still rising, if we will go stand with the grieving Marys of this world, if we will draw out the terrified who have retreated to their holes, if we will walk the Emmaus road with the lost and confused, if we will search out the hungry in the neighborhood called Galilee. We will find him already there before us, bringing new and verdant life. The only place we will not find him is in the tomb.
So Christ is the Jolly Green Giant? Towering o’er the wrecks of time? Am I close?
With all due respect to one of the great character actors, Margaret Hamilton of The Wizard of Oz fame………………”I’m melting, I’m melting”!
Which when first eyeballing Ms. Schori, is representative of what is happening to the Episcopal Church in America.
We are definitely not in Kansas anymore.
“Climate denial is immoral, says head of US Episcopal church” thus spoke Bp Schori
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/24/climate-change-denial-immoral-says-head-episcopal-church
Anything but preaching the Gospel — just an apostate leading a small “c” church and worshipping a small “g” god. One needs only to ask when are the TEC and the ACoC going to weed out these apostates and have leadership that truly preaches the Gospel.
Might I respectfully suggest that this is part and parcel of the decline of both the Episcopal and the ACoC. The ‘via media’ concept is a euphemism for decline and eventual demise.
The ‘church without gravity’ is self destructing right in front of our eyes. Of course those at the ‘top’ continue to collect a pay cheque……….without conscience I might add.
And without a clue, Jimmy…..