The Easter reality… Jesus’ resurrection… can be seen and appreciated from many different perspectives, perhaps as many as there are persons of faith. This can be as “grounded” as seeing God’s presence in the delightful “changes of the season” that mark spring in New England or recognizing and celebrating a cautious but sturdy return to health after a serious long-term illness…. It can be hearing from a friend or relative after a long period of absence or silence…. or appreciating the step by step process of reconciliation between enemies in places like Liberia that suffered for so long under Civil War. I distinctly remember Bishop Curry in one of his visits some years ago talking about the situation in Mozambique that had recently returned to peace after many years. Artists in that country purposely took the raw materials for their work from the broken and disabled weapons that were piled in dump areas. I seem to recall that he brought at least one piece made from ammunition bits but fashioned into a cross. It was “resurrection” art. In each of these cases that involve human relationships we could say that resurrection is the arrival of an un-expected initiative that has elements of positive transformation and healing, that has elements of risk, that defies death or overcomes it in some measure.
While I realize that there are differences of opinion even among our own church membership I still believe that the legislative end of the death penalty in Connecticut has elements of resurrection. Simply the fact that its end means that not another innocent person will lose their life by an accidental miscarriage of justice is an enormous positive outcome. My in-laws volunteer in the prison system in southern Connecticut and the stories that they are able to share, often in prisoners own words, attest to remarkable events of restoration and even kinds of resurrection that may not be possible on death row. In any event… however, wherever you see Him right now, this day…. He is Risen indeed. Alleluia…. Fr. Dave
Pomfret, CT