Festival of the Resurrection
Year A
April 24, 2011
Jeremiah 31:1-6
Colossians 3:1-4
Matthew 28:1-10
A little over a month ago, we all watched in horrified wonder as a tsunami crashed into Japan sweeping away homes and cars, and fields and lives.
We have watched with concern as the Japanese have attempted to get a nuclear power plant, damaged by the earthquake that caused the tsunami, under control.
The scenes weren't new.
A year ago, it was scenes from Haiti that filled the news. And before that, Indonesia.
And before that Katrina, and the scenes of anguished people in the streets of New Orleans.
It makes you wonder what the world's coming to, doesn't it? I mean, catastrophes seem to be epidemic!
And it's not just the natural disasters.
There are also the ongoing wars in places like Afghanistan and Iraq.
Every week we pray for our soldiers. Every week we hear more stories about soldiers being killed, or injured for life.
And now there's Libya to worry about…
And after that… who knows?
And the economy seems to be going no-where. And now, gas prices are skyrocketing again.
And, every night, it seems we hear of another child being abused or killed by a parent or family member, or someone else being gunned down in the streets of Oklahoma City.
It seems, there is a lot to be afraid of these days.
We may not think about it all the time, but fear is always there, lurking. Like background noise, it runs beneath the surface of our lives. Like a nagging thought that lingers just outside our perception as we go about our daily lives.
And we do go about our daily lives.
And, for the most part, we don't pay much attention to the fear lurking all around us.
We go to our jobs (if we have one). We attend school functions and athletic events with our kids. We take care of our homes, and do the shopping and run our errands and squeeze in a vacation now and then.
For the most part, life isn't all that bad. But… for how long, we wonder.
The fear is still there. It's always there.
And that is why we come here this morning.
I think that is one of the reasons why we fill churches on Easter (and, I think, on Christmas too.)
Because we all yearn for a little hope in our lives.
For a way to deal with the fear.
For a way to confront the uncertainty.
For a way to escape from the stresses and strains of modern life.
And, the good news is…
You've come to the right place.
The fact that Christ is risen, does, in fact, help us face the fear.
When we know the truth of the resurrection, we can risk living our lives with hope and joy even in the face of the fearful realities of our world!
The first Easter morning dawned with fear too.
The disciples had watched (from a safe distance) as their Lord and Master, their hope, was nailed to a cross and died in agonizing suffering and pain.
Their world had been crushed.
And, I am sure, they were wondering if they were going to escape Jerusalem alive.
As the day after Sabbath dawned, a few of the women among them decided to risk going out to the tomb to care for Jesus' body properly.
And then, the fear only deepened.
Matthew's telling of the Resurrection story is fraught with fear.
First there is an earthquake.
Then the appearance of an angel.
It was so terrifying the guards passed out.
And then there was the empty tomb.
Had the body been stolen?
And the words of the angel,
And then Jesus himself.
And they fell to their feet – filled with awe and worship and, yes, fear.
But the words from both and angel and Jesus were the same:
“Don't be afraid.”
“Don't be afraid.”
Jesus says the same thing to the disciples (several times) as he appeared to them over the next forty days.
“Don't be afraid.”
And, I think, he is saying the same thing to us on this Easter morning.
In the face of everything in the world that could terrify us , he is saying…
“Don't be afraid.”
But then, why shouldn't we be? There is plenty to be afraid of. Why shouldn't we be? Well, I'll tell you!
Because death has been defeated by the love of God.
Because the tomb has been broken open by the power of life.
Because Christ is alive and with us still.
Because of that, we can live with joy and with hope.
Here.
Now.
In this present moment.
In this present age.
The world has always been a difficult and challenging place.
But faith in the promise of this day, and in the One who was risen can and does give us the ability, not only to escape it once in a while, but to FACE it!
Living in that faith, daily,
Practicing that faith, regularly,
Not only helps us face the fears in our lives (whatever they may be), but has the potential for making our daily lives richer, fuller, more meaningful and hopeful.
Today we, like the women before us, fall down and worship the Risen Lord.
And Jesus promises us, as he promised them, that he goes before us.
Always preparing the way,
Until that day when we all join him in celebrating that life which has no end.
No fear.
Not ever.
And that is the hope that is ours,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.