A Reflection by Rev Roberto Ochoa, Conference Minister
Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences of the United Church of Christ
“But I trust in you, O Lord, I say ‘You are my God’” Psalms 31:14 (NRSVUE)
Holy Week is the core of Christianity’s understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the belief that even in death there is resurrection, for one’s body and soul in whatever theological perspective one may hold: Jesus Christ lives in us, among us, and around us. That belief is fundamental as disciples of Christ, believing in the everlasting hope that in God, all things are possible. A created mind-set that faith can sustain us in the worst of times as taught to us by the One called to show us the way.
Each year we receive the narrative of Passion week which begins in the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, followed by Jesus’ teaching and even an angry disruption at the temple overturning tables, to his compassion of healing those in need, to the transforming of the Passover meal as an invitation to partake to oneself the bread of life and cup of salvation. We are told of the betrayal, about a stirred up crowd, the denials by the beloveds and the horrific events that leads to the violent crucifixion of a man for preaching the love and kin-dom of God, and the miraculous image of an empty tomb that inspired a Holy Spirit movement which resonates to this day.
There is no question that we are living in a time of much uncertainty and anxiety and for so many the grief being experienced is overwhelming. In my travels throughout Iowa Nebraska South Dakota conferences, pastoral leaders and congregational gatherings are sharing with me the struggles of being church during the current climate of societal and political polarizations in their communities. UCC churches known to be welcoming spaces for worship and fellowship are being challenged every day as they seek to find common ground in the midst of our differences. Pastoral leaders are sensitive to governmental policies that have adversely impacted the economies of rural and urban communities alike, the immigrant, and health care affecting families, especially those with trans and nonbinary family members and the care of the elderly. Topics many consider too political for the pulpit, and yet pastors know firsthand the cost of being a disciple of Christ, when called to be a courageous prophetic voice for the oppressed and the marginalized. How do we find common ground for love, compassion and justice in our churches if we are not willing to talk about it.
The table Jesus invited his friends to be is a good place to start. Most of us were taught growing up as thinking of it as the “last supper”, for me however, I look at it as the “first supper” of sharing the bread of life and cup of the salvation to sustain us during difficult times such as these. In this simple act of faith, our coming to a common table, we open ourselves to the invitation of Christ to seek reconciliation with God and one another through the universal symbol of a meal. A divine table that all are welcomed to, no matter where one is in their walk with God. Christ invites us in, together.
In the United Church of Christ, we pride ourselves to be a denomination where our local congregations are autonomous to express their faith and worship styles that allows us to hold the beauty of our diversity in serving a living God through Christ. We covenant with each other as congregations and clergy to unite in the essentials of our faith in Jesus, recognize the diversity in our understanding of faith, and to have charity (Christ’s love) in matters that we may disagree. It is my prayer that we in the South Dakota Nebraska Iowa conferences can re-commit ourselves as UCC’ers to find ways to continue to be that “united and uniting” Church God has called us to be this Easter.
This Resurrection Sunday, as your Conference Minister, I commit myself to serving our conferences, associations, congregations and pastoral leaders in ways that will always seek common ground in our faith in Jesus Christ, together. May we find resurrection together so we can rebuild relationships based on Christ’s table to strengthen our ministry and mission to the local communities we serve and the wider world as well. For our trust is in our God, through Jesus Christ. Christ has risen, yes indeed.
May the blessings of Easter be with you and your loved ones, always.
Rev. Roberto