Resurrection in the Shadow of Injustice

Sunday, April 20, 2025

Easter Sunday

Heidi Weaver-Smith (she/her)

Founder, LOVEboldly

Allied Christian

The past year has held many losses for LGBTQIA+ rights in my home state of Ohio, and sadly, around the country at large. The passing of Don’t Say Gay Bills, and bans on bathrooms, sports, and healthcare for the trans community attack basic human rights for the LGBTQIA+ community. Beneath the shadow of these injustices, it may be difficult to find one iota of celebration to remember and rejoice in the resurrection of Easter. How can we rejoice in seasons of

injustice? What has Easter to say to us when we feel stuck within the hours of darkness, crying out, “My God, why have you forsaken me?”

The hope of resurrection is that our liberation is just around the corner. We may suffer as we wait, but we can hold fast to this promise. Liberation form injustice was central to the message Jesus proclaimed. At the inauguration of Jesus’ ministry he declared, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim

release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19, NRSV).

We can trust that our liberation is just around the corner, that we will in fact rise again with life filling our broken bodies, because Jesus showed us that death will not win. Christ’s life, death, and resurrection point us towards the liberative future of shalom he has accomplished for us, the already-but-not-yet Kingdom of God which breaks into our world daily yet has not finalized its work. In the midst of a world where we continue to experience injustices which strip away basic human rights, we can turn ourselves to both lamenting that things are not as they ought to be and we can continue to hope in a God who themself was unjustly accused, targeted by violent statesmen and hate-filled religious leaders grasping at power to protect their own reputations, ideologies, and senses of law and order.

Our resurrected God knows the system is not worthy of our trust. As followers of a God who was treated unjustly, we can remind ourselves that our faith was never in a justice system so fraught by injustice. We follow a God who, himself, suffered until death from the injustices levied against him by the very authorities who were meant to protect society.

God has, is, and will make all things new. His liberation will not be thwarted - it is just around the bend.

Together, we await our third day, when life, light, and God’s miraculous power will restore and heal us from the powers of death.

Prayer

God of justice, bring your resurrection power to care for those who suffer injustice today. Comfort them with your solidarity of one who suffered unfairly, and may we find our peace in knowing you will make all things new again. Restore those who suffer the loss of their rights, who are unfairly maligned and accused, and who are treated with contempt. May your kin-dom come on earth as it is in heaven. We pray for your justice to overcome the broken systems of our world filled with inequity.

Lead us into a season where we will see the “goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” once again.

Reflection and Action

This prayerful reflection can be practiced alone or with a friend or ally who can hold space with you and support you during this process. As always, only try this exercise if it feels life-giving and aligned with what God is nudging you to do in this moment. It may not be for everyone at every part of their journey.

1. In what ways has our political or justice system failed you, your family, or your loved ones? Write down a list of these injustices and what their effect has been on you personally.

2. Take a moment to light a candle, play some soft music, or just sit quietly. Breathe deeply and pray through the list one by one by saying, “God in your mercy, hear my lament for the injustices of                                   . Hold me in the light of your resurrection, even while I suffer. I trust in your coming kin-dom where all that is wrong will be undone, and we will be liberated to experience your freedom."