AN EASTER PARABLE
By The Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton

In the midst of their spiritual wilderness The Old Woman stood at the doors of the Sacred Space and beckoned everyone to enter. To some it looked like a church. To others it resembled a large tomb. On the first day, a Wednesday, huge crowds filled the chamber, eager to receive the sign of the ashes. She looked tenderly into the eyes of each person with the haunting reminder, "Remember that you are dust. And unto dust you shall return." The Old Woman, whose memory embraced centuries, thought of all those on whom she had imposed ashes just last year for whom these words had become a reality. She turned the stories of their lives over in her heart and pondered them. For the next forty days she stood at the massive doors and urged, even begged, everyone to enter. "Come, join with your sisters and brothers and prepare to celebrate the mysteries by which we are reborn. Pray for those who will be initiated into our fellowship at the all-night Vigil when we celebrate the New Life of the One who is our Light."

She stressed that all were welcome! Women and men, young and old, sick and healthy, conservatives and liberal, poor and rich, and all races, nationalities and cultures, there was a place for all. She asked all who entered to place their trust in the Hidden One who dwelled therein.

Some entered freely with a sense of familiarity, clearly committed to stay the entire forty days. Some never came back after that first Day of Ashes. Others entered cautiously, staying near the door. Still others entered out of curiosity, eyeing the unfamiliar surroundings. Some entered out of bored routine or strange feelings of obligation. Others entered sullenly, being forced by their elders. There were even those who entered arrogantly, displaying their fine vestures. Happily, there were also those who entered unnoticed in great humility.

Many passed by. Some didn’t even notice the amazing structure which, in one sense was not one building but many, one in every town and community. But in the deepest sense it was one Sacred Space. For many the Ancient Woman’s call was drowned out by the dangling conversation in their minds. Others recognized Her Voice all too well, remembering with nostalgia past happy times within the walls of Her great hall. But this year, they no longer felt the need or the desire to enter, even as their friends and family members went in. Still others felt no longer free to enter. Perhaps they had been made to feel unwelcome. Still others passed by in proud self-sufficiency, looking with scorn at the "fools" who entered and scoffing at them for their pie in the sky pipe dreams of a coming world filled with justice, love and peace. Many passed reverently, hearing the voices of other prophets and sages calling them to other dwelling places. Though, in fact, it was the same Voice which called them all.

But of those who entered many remained or came frequently during the six weeks. With a remarkably strong Voice, the Woman, who at times appeared to possess the radiant beauty of youth, read to them from the Holy Word, " Return to the Lord your God. Return to me with all your heart. Rend your hearts and not your garments. When you, pray, fast and give alms, do not perform these acts for others to see like the hypocrites do. Do these works in secret so that only God can see. If you would find yourself, you must lose yourself; if you would have life, you must be willing to die." They also shared a simple meal of Bread and Wine. The more they partook of this meal of thanksgiving and sacrifice, the more they realized it was the Cup of Salvation, the Bread of Eternal Life. They praised God in song and greeted one another with signs of peace. They left each day to go forth, to love and serve the Lord.
There was a discussion amongst them about what to "give up" during these Holy Days. Coffee? Candy? Gumbo? Cigarettes? Alcohol? Television? Crawfish? Movies? Ice cream? Boudin? The Ageless Woman looked into their soul-space and said, "What you are doing is good. But it would be far better to give up pride, selfishness, anger, rash-judgment, impatience, jealousy, racism, materialism, lust, anti-Semitism, infidelity, dishonesty, and disrespect for others." "Give up these," She said, "and you will be giving in to the Son of the Blessed One."

Some entered at quieter times throughout the day, reading, reflecting, praying, as sunlight danced about the stone-like walls. Others gathered in small groups to become more acquainted with the meaning of the stories about the Son of the Hidden One. Still others gathered in the evening inside the structure where they prayed in their own words for one another and for all. Then it was decided to focus on prayer through the six weeks. People resolved to remember one another in prayer during the noon hour. In time, men took to reading the New Testament on the way to work and in quiet moments at the office. Children began to praise God in their own words at the dinner table. Teenagers and collegians began to think and talk about prayer. Husbands and wives took up the Gospels and prayed about their lives before retiring.

Everyday the people bowed down their heads to the Lord, asking that they become more fervent in prayer, more generous in works of charity, more eager in celebrating the mysteries by which they were reborn. "Pray most fervently for peace," said the Valiant Lady, who sometimes seemed to disappear and speak from the mouths of those gathered together, especially the children. Her heart seemed to break as she said, "All about you are wars and rumors of wars! When shall the people beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. When will they train for peace and not war?"

Then when the six weeks were nearly over, all the people were gathered together. More and more the great structure took on the appearance of a freshly hewn tomb. The Woman, who some called a prophet, (others called Her their Mother) asked the people, with longing in Her eyes, to stay for three days and nights and watch and pray with Her. She invited them to take some private time to express their sorrow for their sins and seek forgiveness. She told them that on the third day the Nameless One would reveal His glory through His Son. At first most stayed gladly and praised God. As the three special days, the Sacred Days, drew near some began to feel uncomfortable. They felt an urge to leave. They suddenly realized that they had things to do. "This is a very busy time of year for us, what with spring cleaning and redecorating." Others said, "With the ‘holidays’ coming they didn’t see how they could stay, with company coming, cooking to do, and all. Still others offered their regrets lamenting, "This has really been great, a time of spiritual renewal. We hate to duck out before it's over. But we’ve gotten the gist. We always take the kids on vacation at this time of year."

Only a remnant stayed praising God. For a moment the tired Old Woman was sad. She had hoped this year might have been different.

The first day was a Thursday. To their surprise there was a joyful celebration with lamb, Bread, Wine and song. ("Lord of Lords in human vesture. In the Body and the Blood. He will give to all the faithful, His own self for heavenly food.") They mended one another’s clothes, nursed each other’s wounds, and shared their life stories with one another. They all had stories of sorrow and joy. All knew fragmentation and broken hearts. They longed to be made one, to be made whole. Finally, their Mother and Teacher took off Her robes, donned an apron and silently washed their feet in warm comforting Water. They were amazed as she kissed and perfumed each foot. She then asked them to wash one another’s feet. Reluctantly, they did so. After that, they all knelt in silent vigil till the morn.

There was something ominous about Friday. There was no denying it. The great edifice was at once a church and a tomb. The Old Woman rose to her full stature and began to question them. "Would you ever speak falsely against your brother or sister? Would you ever hand your neighbor over to enemies? Would you accuse a friend of a crime that you yourself committed in order to save yourself? Would you ever be unfaithful to your husband or wife? Would you ever abandon your parents in old age? Would you ever scandalize small children? Would you ever hire laborers and pay them unjustly? Would you ever destroy the career of a fellow worker in order to get ahead? Would you reject others because of their race, religion or gender? Would you ever deliberately harm anyone? Are you a true peacemaker in a world at war?" Then there was a pause and the people talked among themselves about the questions. And Holy Mother Church asked in a strong voice: "Do you love God with all your heart and soul? Do you love yourself? And do you love your neighbor as yourself? Would you die for love of God and for your sisters and brothers here gathered?"

As they stood in stunned silence, a quiet breeze began to blow through he structure as if before a spring storm. The windows were blown shut. Then suddenly the huge doors, which had remained open day and night throughout the forty days, were slammed shut and all could hear the sound of locks turning. They knew that they could not leave. But, they didn't want to. They sat in a circle of silence praising God and expressing sorrow for their sins.

Then in their midst there appeared a huge cross. Actually it was always there, but they only just noticed it. On the cross was a person in the final agony of crucifixion. Some said that it was a man, others were sure it was a woman or a child. For a moment it looked like a respected member of their community, then a common criminal, a prostitute, an "illegitimate" child, a homosexual, a drug addict, a child abused by a priest, an Iraqi soldier, an abortion provider, an aborted child, an American military leader or a neighbor. Then the form appeared to be people from every period of past, present, and to come. Was he Oriental? European? African? Some thought it was a friend or a family member. For a moment each one saw their own likeness on the cross. Then Holy Mother Church commanded them to open their eyes and look at the man on the cross. In an instant they say that it was Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God. "Is this how God is to be glorified through His Son?" they asked themselves. The man on the cross sighed, "Father forgive them. They know not what they do!" Finally, he gave up His spirit, saying, "It is finished. Into your hands I commend My Spirit." Then He died.

A fierce storm raged across the heavens. Thunder and lightning rocked the building. The earth itself quaked. Torrents of rain fell as if baptizing the whole universe. It was as dark as night. Finally the storm abated. The gray tomb was utter darkness. Before them was the shrouded body of Jesus. And it was night.

As the golden sun rose on Sunday morn, the birds were singing, the grass and trees were a rich green, the flowers were in bloom. Mother Church stood in their midst holding a huge lighted candle. She blessed the new fire and water. She decorated the Paschal candle and sang its praises. The people asked about the body of the Lord. She said, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" With that the walls of the tomb gave way and they could see the people in all the cities of the world who had entered the Sacred Spaces they had seen in their own wildernesses. They remembered Jesus saying, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I’ll rebuild it. The grain must fall to the earth and die before bearing fruit. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Before Abraham came to be, I am. I am the resurrection and the life." Mother Church plunged Her new members into the font of Living Waters bubbling up with Eternal Life. She baptized and confirmed them and fed them with the Eucharist for the first time. She anointed them with scented oil. Then as the sun rose to its height, they saw the Chosen One with eyes of faith, transformed and revealing the Father’s glory. He said, "As I have told you, if you have gone into the tomb with Me in death, you shall also rise with Me to the glory of eternal life."

Each person went forth in peace carrying a lighted candle, telling everyone of what they had seen and heard in the three and forty days that seemed like three seconds or three years. As they approached the millions of people milling about in the busy cities of the world sharing their joy, many rejoiced with them saying, "Christ has risen from the dead. Risen as He truly said!"

But many others, including some who had been baptized during the Easter Vigil the year before hardly said a word…as if they hadn’t heard.