Reflections on a Long-Ago Easter Service - Opinion

Recently, members of Sanctuary Community of Christ got T-shirts displaying the phrase:  "Radically love like Jesus." So, what does that mean?  To answer this question, let's first look at a non-example.  We all woke Easter morning to an expletive-filled rant from the highest ranking official in our nation, one in which he threatened further violence in the ongoing war with Iran.  The tone was inappropriate on any day, but it was especially inappropriate on Easter, a day we gather to celebrate renewal, rebirth, and the hope found in the resurrection of Christ.  What should this day mean, and what would have been an appropriate message?

I think about this question as I recall an Easter service some years ago when Sanctuary was still Portsmouth Welcoming Community.  Community of Christ member Lorry Swain shared a story that captured the meaning of the resurrection in a whole new way.  Lorry talked about the assassination of Oscar Romero, a Catholic archbishop in El Salvador, that took place in 1980.  He was assassinated because he openly spoke out against social injustices taking place in the country, and like some leaders in our own government today, encouraged those in positions of power to refrain from following immoral orders.  Lorry told of how his murder by death squads did not deter the people.  Rather, it emboldened them as though his spirit had been resurrected in the followers who continued to fight for social justice.

As we consider the resurrection of Jesus on Easter, we must follow this example.  The message is to radically love like Jesus.  Doing so means caring for our neighbors and speaking out when we see injustice happening in our own communities regardless of the source. Romero was, of course, not Jesus, but he followed the example set by Jesus as he spoke out against those in power who were doing wrong.  Consequently, those who followed his lead did also.  If Romero's spirit was resurrected in his followers as Swain claimed, it was because Jesus's spirit was resurrected in him, and so it must be in all of us.