Easter 2015

Easter 2015

I really enjoy John’s account of the resurrection. Jesus is missing when the women arrive to prepare his body. When Mary Magdalene tells this to Peter and John, these two don’t believe her—and run to the tomb to see for themselves. Peter even nicks into the tomb (I guess to see if Jesus left a note or something). And after seeing his burial wrappings, they go back home even more confused.

But Mary, we’re told, stayed. She stayed and as she waited there weeping, she sees two angels in the tomb. When they ask why she’s weeping, she explains that someone stole the body of her Lord. Before the angels can answer, Mary turns around and sees someone there in the half-dawn—and she asks him where the body had been taken, because she assumes he’s a gardener. But when Jesus says her name, she realizes this is her Lord who has risen from the dead.

The point, I think, is that the empty tomb wasn’t the thing that convinced his disciples that Jesus has risen. Then again, Jesus was clear about not allowing stones to speak for us when it comes to things of God. The fact is, it wasn’t until the disciples had seen Jesus, and shared meals together with him that they believed. Even Thomas, the so-called wayward disciple, can’t really be blamed for his initial unbelief.

  

But even after they had seen Jesus, and continued to meet with him evening after evening, gathered in the same room where they had gathered for the Passover the very night Jesus was betrayed—even after they had seen Jesus, seen his scars, touched his side—it was still 50 days after the resurrection before any of them were able to step out. But again, all of this business of resurrection was a lot to work out.

And yet, even in all of the confusion, there is this groundswell of excitement. These disciples, found that even though they didn’t have words for what happened, all the same couldn’t help but come together evening after evening. I would imagine they were remembering everything that had happened for the three years that they’d known Jesus, and did their best to make sense of how it led to this... Then we’re told that Jesus would meet with them, give them a blessing of peace, and they would share the Eucharistic meal together. I think that knowing that this is how it will all come out in the end is what makes Good Friday, and the Passion narrative bearable.

The story of the resurrection is an amazing one, and as I tell my colleagues around this time of year—there’s really nothing I can do to add to it. I can’t contrive of anything so clever as to make this Good News of Christ being raised from the dead any better—any more gooder—than it already is, and has been for millennia.

  

But, like Jesus’ disciples, this is a story for us to share, because it really is Good News... Now, I understand that there are some who “share” the Good News and condemn everyone to hell in the same breath. But the opposite is just as bad. To keep this story, this word of hope to ourselves—maybe hoping the empty tomb would speak for us is just, well...irresponsible.

Because the Good News is this: even if the Easter ham burns, and the deviled eggs have too much paprika, Christ is still Risen. Even if the sermon goes a little long, and we’re late for brunch, Christ is still Risen.

But more importantly when we cannot get the pain of the world out of our minds, Christ is still Risen. Even though violence, oppression, greed, exploitation of the weak and hatred seem to be all the news we hear about, Christ is still Risen. And even though people will still hear their doctor say that they have bad news...even though the police will still call to ask family members to identify the body of a loved one...even though children are abused, and kids are bullied, Christ is still Risen.

  

And it is because in the face of all of this, Jesus continues to be crucified in every one of these moments—reminding us that our brokenness leads to such a disgraceful end. But this is also the very reason the cross, the symbol of Love’s own execution has become for us a sign of victory. This thing of death has become the very thing of life for all of us. And because we know that the promise of eternal life and resurrection is where the cross leads, we keep it in front of us to remind us that no matter what we experience in our lives, no matter what pain or loss; we can trust that the cross is for us. We can trust that the Passion story always leads to this truth...

Christ is Risen, trampling down death and the grave. Christ is Risen, and alleluias are the broken, beautiful song of the redeemed. Christ is Risen, and death has lost its sting, and the grave has no victory.

So, to him, who is raised, glorious with his wounds, and leads us to eternal life; to him be honor, glory and majesty for ever and for evermore.