Deliverance: A Discourse
Written on April 12, 2020: “The Day of our Lord’s Resurrection”
For publication on May 10, 2020: Mother’s Day
How do we get society as a whole to transform and move forward, toward sustainable reconciliation? Now that we are faced with a common enemy— the coronavirus— and live in the same communities, how do we continue to honor one another and keep alive the memory of the struggle we went through together before truth rendered our deliverance?
The principal objective should be to focus on the present, now that we’ve had nine nights to reflect, starting from the celebration of the passover through the ending of the celebration of Easter.
Being provided with a new start is the minimal goal; healing is the ultimate goal. Talking about the future and what we need as a family, a community, a society, and a nation, often provides a greater sense of community and lessening of hostility.
What is deliverance? To rescue; the state of being freed; a setting free; an opinion; or to be; or become? It depends on the situation, does it not?
Passover (or Pasch) is honoring and to keep alive the memory of the deliverance of the ancient Hebrews from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12).
Good Friday is honoring and to keep alive the memory of the crucifixion of Emmanuel (God with us), while Easter is honoring and keeping alive the memory of the resurrection of Emmanuel.
Though a day has been set aside to reflect on how our Lord and Savior was put to death, Easter reminds us— our Lord and Savior did not die; He has risen and manifested himself to Saint Mary Magdalene.
For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pain, together until now. And not only they, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:22-23)
Let me tell you a story. A story that entails the Passover, Good Friday, and Easter.
At the age of 21, I was raped by a black man from Washington, D.C. I was a little guy and he was much bigger than me. It was naive of me to think that black men were looking at one another as brothers.
Those who were in charge of me— the guards— did not protect me. That system did not care who was getting raped, just as long as black boys weren’t raping white boys. How ironic.
The officials knew of my trying situation. You’d be surprised how much racism is embedded in these places. There were a good number of inmates who knew too. When the time came to punish me for defending myself, the system would not allow even one person to speak for me or on my behalf. As part of the punishment, I wound up in Leavenworth Penitentiary, a place I should have not been. I was not old enough. It was here that I was sexually abused for five years. It was a trade off; either sexually satisfy who desired me or suffer the consequences. A case manager by the name of Bob Guzit got me out of there. He told me, “I don’t know how you wound up there in the first place.”
Twenty seven years of suffering and pain. I was bitter, full of hate. My heart burned for the downfall of bullies, tyrants, child molesters, rapists, and domestic abusers. So here I am, at 69 years old. I pose the question again… “How do we get society as a whole to transform and move forward, toward sustainable reconciliation?”
In 1988 I became a student of Islam and studied its theosophical understanding until October 15, 2014.
On October 15, 2014 (my birthday), I was reborn. I was confirmed as an Episcopalian. I heard the voices of Truth, Mercy, Justice, and Peace. Unknowingly, I was being prepared and am now prepared to move toward the source of pain and toward the people and relationships that created it. Time and timing are intimately connected. On that day of my confirmation, I understood Truth and Justice must come before Mercy and Peace. A new start, healing, is the ultimate goal. My experiences show that I need a wholistic understanding of reconciliation and time. Each of us needs a voice. Each of us depends on each other to reach full potential.
The Deacon in me cries for justice and truth, and the mediator for empathy, understanding, and mercy. Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)
The real struggle is not so much doing justice or loving mercy, but walking humbly in this world, as a fellow human and child of God.
Today is a day set aside for honoring the Mothers of this world, which includes (in my view) our “Mother- the Earth.” Exactly 33 days ago, we took the time to think about the deliverance of the ancient Hebrews. And 31 days ago, we took the time to think about the crucifixion of Emmanuel. 29 days ago we took the time to think about the resurrection of Emmanuel.
On this day, May 10, 2020, another day of reflection, we meditate on the past, the present, and the future. Saint Paul writes that through Christ, God was pleased to reconcile all things to himself, and that in Christ all things are held together (Col. 1:17,20). To the Ephesians, he writes that through the cross, Christ has broken down the dividing wall of hostility and created in himself a new humanity that is reconciled with each other and God (Eph. 2:13-14).
Our mission is to align ourselves with God, who is and has been working to bring all the things together, to reconcile all of creation and particularly a broken (remember my story?) and estranged humanity. Reconciliation is getting to the heart of the gospel and getting on with the gospel. I understand that the purpose is to heal and to reconcile people with each other and with God. Happy Passover, Happy Good Friday, Happy Easter, and Happy Mother’s Day!
Peace be with you—
Abu Ali, the Episcopalian