The Power of Hope
April 20, 2003 - Easter
Margaret A. Hart
First Universalist Church of Central Square, NY

Today is Easter, and in the Christian church it is celebrated as the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In my studies and reflections I have learned that the resurrection of Jesus can be seen on various levels. For many, Jesus’ death and resurrection stands as a symbol of salvation, whether substitutionary, as a ransom, or as an atonement for our sins. Some people believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ. Others believe in a subtle, spiritual resurrection. Still others believe the resurrection to be purely symbolic. For many, resurrection is seen as a sign of hope, whether for salvation and eternal life, bodily resurrection, or more generally.
While the Unitarian and Universalist movements arose from the Christian church, Unitarian Universalist churches today embrace many sources for their living tradition. One source is “Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life.” All the world’s religions inspire us to act from faith and hope. Today I have decided to focus on the power of hope.
This has been a difficult and trying time for many people in the world. There has been a war in Iraq, following many years of an oppressive regime in power there. The Bush Doctrine of Pre-emptive strikes seems to have changed the role and the perception of the United States in the world, let alone amongst ourselves. There are on-going struggles in Afghanistan. The Palistinean-Israeli crisis is far from over. The difficulties in these places are but the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Here in the United States, we see continuing loss of jobs, cuts in education and health care, and threats to hard won freedoms which we had begun to take for granted, such as the freedom of speech. I don’t mean to create a litany of depression, or discouragement; God knows reading the newspaper has been discouraging enough. My goal is, rather, to paint a realistic picture of how things appear to be at this time in our world, and then to examine the role of hope and of religious fellowship in these days.
In the book of Hebrews in the bible (11:1-3) we read: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
When Jesus was crucified, dead, and buried, it appeared that the movement that he had been leading had come to an end. He seemed to be just another great teacher, or rabbi. Many of his followers were understandably disappointed. Where was the one who was to lead them to liberation? Had he been squashed like so many others before him, under the foot of the oppressors?
But then, others had faith in miracles - faith that things are not always as they appear. Some claimed to have seen Christ risen. Some, like Thomas, expressed doubts and had their faith restored. Some felt the Holy Spirit flowing among them, encouraging them to spread the good news.
I am here this Easter morning, to claim that Jesus Christ is indeed risen in our hearts, as long as we believe it is true. What this means in terms of historical fact or eternal life, I do not claim to understand. But I believe that the Easter story is one of hope, and that hope is essential in the living of our lives. Hope provides the means to reframe our reality, and to uncover that which we hope it to be.
Frederick Buechner, in his book entitled Wishful Thinking: A Seeker’s ABC, writes:
Christianity is mainly wishful thinking. Even the part about Judgment and Hell reflects the wish that somewhere the score is being kept.

Dreams are wishful thinking. Children playing at being grown-up is wishful thinking. Interplanetary travel is wishful thinking.

Sometimes wishing is the wings the truth comes true on.
Sometimes the truth is what sets us wishing for it.

In my experience we need to be careful what we wish for, hope for, and plan for, because it just might come true. This reminds me of a story: There was a great yogi sitting under a tree. He had decided to sit there and go without food, as a spiritual discipline. He became very hungry. As he sat, he daydreamed. And in his daydream, he cooked up a feast for himself. He made chapatis, rice, dal, bagie (vegetables) and hot chutney. After all, he was in India. When he bit into the hot chutney, he yelled out loud in pain, and started fanning his mouth. A wise person happened to be walking by, and when she heard what had happened, said, “If you were creating something to eat in your daydream, why didn’t you make something sweet and cooling?”
Why don’t we create a peaceful loving world, in which everyone has what he or she needs? Why do we create hatred, jealousy, injustice, suffering, and war? Perhaps we are not ready to accept the power and responsibility we have been given.

Marianne Williamson has written:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous.
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Williamson strikes a chord which sounds very Unitarian Universalist to me. She acknowledges the light, or divine spark, within each of us- in our first principle we refer to it as the inherent worth and dignity of every person. She also raises the responsibility that goes with power - the importance of letting our lights shine, and being liberated from our fears- that others may be liberated from fears and uncover their lights as well. We refer to this in our principles as the free and responsible search for truth and meaning and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.
For me, hope is the essential meaning of Easter. Hope in ourselves. Hope in each other. Hope that there is a loving God or Goddess, a Great Abiding Spirit which transcends and permeates everything. It is this abiding hope, amidst all the seeming changes in this life, which makes life possible, and even great.
I would like to close with these words from Rev. Forrest Church, the Senior Minister at the Unitarian Church of All Souls in New York City, who will be coming to speak to us in Syracuse on May 4.
As for hope on the heart’s horizon, it [too] is what it always has been. Every day we live, the choices we make either redeem or diminish the world. Living at a time when one feels a part of history, which we certainly do now, can present a daunting challenge. On this field, there are no sidelines. To be saved is first to save. Yet, in meeting this challenge, we cannot help but become more engaged, committed, mindful, empathetic, and alive.
Fear is a visitor from the future. By filling the present with love and service, we offer fear no room in our hearts. We can’t do the impossible. And wishful thinking doesn’t help. But thoughtful wishing does. To want what we have, do what we can, and be who we are, we invest our lives and the life of the world with meaning. This is our choice and no one else’s. No outside power, however mighty, can relock our hearts. Nothing, not even death, can take back the love we dare to give away.

So, let us roll the stone away this Easter morning. Let us reveal the love in our hearts, and work to make our dreams of peace and justice come true.