Breakthrough Within: In-between adherence and defiance

3.30.2025

4th Mini Easter

[Texts]

Joshua 5:9-12

Psalm 32

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Lenten Blessings to you, holy and beloved siblings in Christ.

Recently, I downloaded an app called WeCroak, which sends daily thought-provoking quotes from poets, philosophers, and notable thinkers. These quotes are designed to help users embrace impermanence, let go of trivial concerns, and focus on what truly matters in life.

Yesterday, I came across a quote that ties beautifully to this Sunday’s sub-theme: being caught between adherence and defiance in our journey of transformation. The quote reads: “The world we are part of now is difficult to accept, unimaginably difficult. I don’t know if I accept everything now. I don’t know how I can. But acceptance moves past denial, and maybe there is defiance in it, too.” — Jeff VanderMeer.

Defiance, in a broader sense, isn’t always negative—it can reflect courage and conviction, especially when standing up against injustice or oppression. Think of Rosa Parks, whose refusal to give up her bus seat to a white passenger on December 1, 1955, became one of the most famous stories of defiance for justice and equality.

On the other hand, adherence, while often positive, isn’t always ideal. It can foster rigid attachment that hinders growth, limits flexibility, or clings stubbornly to outdated practices. The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 serve as a striking example of this, where inflexible adherence to Puritan religious beliefs and rigid societal norms led to the persecution of twenty individuals and the imprisonment of many others accused of witchcraft.

In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus vividly illustrates both defiance and adherence in the actions of the two sons toward their gracious and forgiving Father. This contrast between defiance and adherence in the two sons invites us for deeper reflection.

The younger son's defiance is apparent. He demands his inheritance prematurely and squanders it in self-indulgence. His adherence, however, is evident in how he clings stubbornly to his pursuit of freedom and personal gratification, leading to his eventual downfall and alienation.

In contrast, the older son's defiance manifests in a more subtle way. Though outwardly obedient, he possesses resentment and refuses to join the celebration of his brother's return. His adherence is rooted in his rigid attachment to perceived fairness and entitlement, which blinds him to the father’s grace.

So, what elicited Jesus to use this particular parable for teaching? In Luke 15, in response to the Pharisees and scribes grumbling about Jesus welcoming and eating with sinners, Jesus shared several parables to highlight the central mission of His ministry: finding and gathering the lost. Through these parables, we grasp the essence of what being lost and found is like. This reflects the heart of Jesus' mission—a mission grounded in compassion and redemption.

In contrast, how do people perceive the mission of the Pharisees? Their societal norms and expectations trained them to quickly spot faults in others and label them as sinners without hesitation. Could today’s story lead us to examine ourselves and ask how our societal norms and expectations also train us to quickly spot faults in others and label them as sinners - bad people - without hesitation?

We are over halfway through Lent—22 days behind us and 18 days ahead. Picture ourselves walking with Jesus in the wilderness. What temptations have confronted each of us during this time? Have we acted like the younger son, the older son, or the Pharisees, clinging to rigid adherence or defiant self-will? Lent invites us to open our hearts, examine our motives, and seek transformation.

How, then, can we foster a profoundly different culture—one where all are invited to reflect on their own adherence and defiance? Even if we’ve acted like the two brothers or the Pharisees, may we hear God’s voice calling us home and embrace His grace, acceptance, and forgiveness. These divine gifts are not reserved for a select few but extended to all—unconditionally.

That’s the Good News for today: God’s grace, acceptance, and forgiveness are gifts for everyone. Let us carry the Good News with us, just as we never leave home without our cellphone, house keys, or wallet. Take the Good News wherever we go—home, work, school, the supermarket, on vacation, the doctor office, and even while browsing the internet. Unlike our personal belongings, the Good News can and should be shared freely and generously. By sharing the gospel story that has shaped our lives and the ways it has touched us, we uncover joyful breakthroughs within ourselves—transformations that remind us of the hope and renewal we celebrate in the Season of Easter every year.

Today, as you come forward to receive Holy Communion, please feel free to take a cocoon with you. Let it be a gentle reminder that new life begins from within, unfolding and breaking through in its own time. If we try to force that process from the outside, we may risk disrupting the transformation God lovingly intends for each of us.

We’re not called to force, impose, or fix anyone. Instead, joining Jesus’ mission means walking alongside those whom God places in our lives, sharing our own transformation stories, and offering support and love while trusting in the power of the Triune God to work in their hearts and shape their lives.

This year’s Easter is not just another Easter—it is Easter 2025, a time to reflect on how we are renewed constantly through God’s grace. Each year, as we celebrate Easter, we experience different kinds of breakthroughs within, recognizing the ongoing transformation we undergo as sinners that are redeemed by God's love.

Our new lives in Christ are not meant to be stuck in between hope and despair, persistence and doubt, repenting and perishing, or adherence and defiance. Rather, we are transformed in the in-between. With the Good News of God’s grace, acceptance, and forgiveness—extended to all—let us rejoice in our transformation and, together, eagerly anticipate the celebration of Easter Sunday.

Amen.