Presented to TSA AV Ministries, 26 March 2023, by Major Michael Ramsay
This poster means very much to me. It was given to me by Remi – some of you know Remi – he is a colleague here at The Salvation Army. Remi has taught me much about Nuu-Chah-Nulth culture, tradition, government, and some vocabulary (if only I can remember the words!); he is a friend!
On Shrove Tuesday this year, the Tseshaht First
Nation released the preliminary findings about the residential school that was
on their territory. It is very sad.
Everyday since, as before, as I enter my office and as I sit at my desk, I see
the painting by Roy Henry Vickers with the words 'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator)
written underneath.
Shrove Tuesday – the day the findings were
released from the residential school on Tseshaht First Nation – is the day
before lent begins. It is a day to get our houses and our lives ready for the season
of Lent. It is about confession and absolution. I think that it is quite
fitting that the preliminary findings from the residential schools be released
on a day tradition has set aside for confession and absolution. Our nation has
certainly been coming to terms with the residential school systems and many
other things. Our politicians, church leaders and others have certainly been
confessing the sins and errors of the past. And true reconciliation is only
possible with forgiveness, absolution. As Demond Tutu said in the South African
context, “there is no future without forgiveness”; for it is only forgiving others that truly sets us free.
Lent, the season that begins after Shrove
Tuesday, starts on Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is a time for fasting and
praying. Lent – the word itself – means ‘fortieth’ and it references the 40
days Jesus fasted (referencing as well Elijah’s and Moses’ fasts of that
length) before commencing his public ministry. Lent ends on either Maundy
Thursday or Low Saturday – the day between Good Friday and Easter. It is a time
for us to prepare ourselves for Easter, the day we commemorate Christ providing
reconciliation for the whole world, all of Creation.
The symbolism of this picture is important to
me. The crown of thorns on the 'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator)’s head make it clear
that this is a representation of Jesus. Jesus who died on the cross, Jesus is
the Creator. John Chapter 1: He wasn’t just a man. He is God. He is creator of
the whole world and more.
Doctrines 2 through 4 of The Salvation Army say
this about 'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator):
· We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.
· We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.
· We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.
'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator) not only created us
but He also went to the cross for us. The tears in this picture remind me how
sad He must be. Can you imagine the sadness of 'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator)? He
created all of us, everything, the whole world and more; and we killed Him. He
loves us and we killed Him. Can you imagine if those whom you love deeply want
to kill you and you watch them as they do? In our context today, imagine you
are lying in a hospital bed and your loved one comes and puts the needle in that
ends everything. Now imagine that they do this NOT out of love. Imagine. This I
think can cause some tears. There is more than that though.
'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator) went to the cross for
us. The tears in this picture remind me how sad He must be for the way we have
treated each other in residential schools, and wars, and poverty, and other
such things and elsewhere and how sad He must be at the way we continue to
treat each other today.
Hebrews 10:26ff says that if we continue to sin after Christ died for us, we trample the body of Christ underfoot. 'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator) let His
creation kill Him so that we, His creation, could be free of Sin. See the tears
on His cheek. Jesus died on the cross so that sin would no longer have a hold
on us. He died of the cross so that we no longer need to fall pray to sin. Look
at His tears – how sad it must make Him that we still sometimes fall pray to
sin; how sad it must make Him that we still do bad things to each other; how
sad it must make 'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator) feel to see those He created and
loves, harm others whom He created and loved.
'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator) died and rose again
so that we could be reconciled to 'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator) and to one another.
This is what we are preparing for in Lent after confession and absolution and this
is what we hope for in Easter. We are preparing to celebrate the reconciliation that
Jesus provided for us all between the cross and the empty tomb. Jesus rose from
the grave leaving sin and death behind Him so that we can all do the same. And
even now we have the opportunity to begin to live out that salvation; even now
we have to opportunity to begin to break free from those horrible sins that are
trying to drag us down; even now we have that opportunity to live out that reconciliation
with God – and with one another.
'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator), Jesus, died and rose
again so that we could be reconciled to 'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator), Jesus, God,
and to one another. As 'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator) has done this for us, it is my
hope that indeed we will all look diligently and unceasingly toward that end of
living a life reconciled both with 'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator) and with one another. He
loves us and He wants us to get along with Him with each other just like any
parent desires to have their children get along.
So today, if there is anything between you and another
of God’s children, another of God’s creations, I encourage you to live free from
the power of Sin and death and experience love and forgiveness instead. I
encourage you, if there is anything between you and 'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator),
that you confess it to Him now and receive His forgiveness, His Grace, His
love, and His healing and reconciliation; and when we go from here in a moment
or two let us all go from here in His power, and share His love and ministry of
reconciliation with all whom we meet.
Let us pray.
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