May Day Message from Pastor Kaji

With flowers in one hand and labor struggles in the other, May Day marks both spring *and* struggle. That feels like the right threshold for this Sunday.

This week, we turn to First Peter in worship. Our text beautifully declares our legacy of hope born through Jesus’ resurrection. In worship, we’ll reflect on just what that legacy looks like. As we do, here are a few things to consider:

Strongholds are entrenched forms of resistance against God’s will & blessings.

With that in mind, I’d suggest reading up on a couple of illustrations. First is Prof. Sherillyn Ifill’s analysis of this week’s SCOTUS Louisiana v. Callais decision, which she says “strikes a blow at the fragile infrastructure of our democracy” for everyone. All of us. To read more on how, Dr. Carol Anderson’s historical case analysis is very helpful. 

I’d also suggest reading from Justice Kagan’s dissent that she took the very bold step of reading, in summary, from the bench when this horrible decision was handed down. As she wrote: 

“What the court struck did strikes down some of Congress’ best and boldest work in the Voting Rights Act. “The Voting Rights Act,” she wrote “is—or, now more accurately, was—‘one of the most consequential, efficacious, and amply justified exercises of federal legislative power in our Nation’s history.’ It was born of the literal blood of Union soldiers and civil rights marchers. It ushered in awe-inspiring change, bringing this Nation closer to fulfilling the ideals of democracy…[their decision] “eviscerate[s] this law.” 

And with these particular strongholds in mind, consider another stronghold possibility that I’ll refer to in my sermon that’s related to Dr. Solomon Asch’s research. You can read a bit more about it here.  

Finally, more about our text. 

First Peter is written to a marginalized group of Jesus’ followers, under pressure, scattered across Asia Minor, living as resident aliens and spiritual exiles. Their trials included suspicion, shame, social vulnerability, and the daily cost of refusing to let Rome define their ultimate belonging. How did Rome do this? By offering peace, protection, status, & civic belonging to people who accepted Rome’s order. 

See, Rome could tolerate many local gods and religious practices, so long as those practices didn’t challenge “Roman order”. Jesus’ followers could honor authorities, pray, live peaceably, and even participate in civic life. (First Peter itself says, “Honor the emperor.”) The boundary comes when Rome asked for what Christians believe belongs to God: worship, ultimate allegiance, sacred trust, first loyalty. 

First Peter speaks of “a living hope” to people in such a time as these. 

Hope, here, is real resurrection power implanted in people whose lives are being pressure tested. Hope’s the remembrance of who they truly are, even when their environment tries to situate them as disposable & defeated.

1 Peter uses inheritance language for people whose earthly security could be fragile. Yet their inheritance in Christ is “incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading”. That’s holy resistance language!

How? Incorruptible because Rome can’t rot their inheritance from within. See, Rome could corrupt people by training them to call domination peace & mistake safety for righteousness, or to trade conscience for civic approval. The imperial cult wrapped political power in sacred language. Augustus was even called “son of god.” Faith in Jesus roots out that rot. 

Undefiled because civic belonging required gestures of devotion to Rome’s emperor, which would defile their faithful allegiance. Resisting that pressure made Jesus’ followers seem disloyal & potentially dangerous. Despite that, their faith kept them spiritually clean. 

Unfaded because Rome’s protections were very conditional and could easily be (and often were) withdrawn. Christ’s inheritance, by contrast, is everlasting. (Can I get an Amen?) 

Questions for Reflection/Journaling:

What kinds of “peace” are you sometimes asked to accept?

Which word feels most needed right now: incincorruptible, undefiled, or unfading?

Where do you feel pressure to conform?

In all this, we must never forget: Jesus’ resurrection gives his followers (us) a legacy that Rome & all its strongholds can never seize. 

Let’s get into it on Sunday. I can’t wait to see you.

Pax Christi,

Pastor Kaji

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Redeemer Jesus Christ who in great mercy has engendered a new birth for us into a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 into an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you all, 5 who in the power of God are kept through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the end time. 6 In this you rejoice even when necessary for you to suffer various trials, 7 in order that the examination of your faith, more precious than gold, which though perishable is tested by fire, may be found yielding praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 You have not seen him, yet you love him. You do not see him now, yet you believe in him and rejoice with a joy glorious and beyond words. 9 You are receiving the completion of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (Gafney, Year A, p. 314)

Image note: This illustration was AI-generated using ChatGPT, based on an original concept, direction, and prompts by Kaji Spellman Douša. No separate copyright claim is made for the AI-generated image beyond any rights permitted by law.