Alleluia! Christ is risen! Remember.
Remembering is a complicated thing. For one man
who’d been a colonel in the Air Force, his inability in later life to remember made
him agitated and confused. Most days he believed he was flying planes again. It
had nothing to do with reality. But as soon as it was time for communion and The
Lord’s Prayer, he stopped, smiled and knew all the words. For a moment
something changed. Somewhere buried deep inside was faith and joy in a moment
with the risen Christ. Remember.
We all have things we remember. Especially when it
comes to holidays and loved ones. As soon as someone says “Easter” you think of
it- a certain candy, a meal, a particular decoration. It’s not Easter without
it. For my mother in law, it’s those marshmallow Peeps. And Easter baskets. She’ll
have a basket for each of the kids even though some are in their 20’s. And there
are crocheted plastic egg covers that look like chickens. Made by her mother
who is dead for quite some time. Even though there are no little ones looking
for eggs as soon as we walk in someone will look up on the mantel to see them lined
up. And for a moment I’ll remember Steffy. Until next Easter. It isn’t really the
same without Steffy and the tradition is a little hollow.
The paper ran a question about what tradition
people are looking forward to this Easter. Only one person mentioned Church.
She said she looked forward to dinner after her son’s family came from church. But
church is just a scheduled social event that happens. Easter is just a day. Our
traditions, while we have them they don’t always change the things that leave
us perplexed or confused in this world And we follow the traditions out of
devotion even if they don’t have a lot of meaning for us. Or little to offer
our reality. The women who went to the tomb knowing what to expect and going out
of devotion to tradition. To do the expected even if they didn’t really want
to. They went expecting to see something particular.
To be reminded what was dead and past. But then
they arrive and are confronted by something altogether different. The tomb is
open and there is no body. And they are greeted by the Messengers. They’re
terrified, and fearful, and perplexed, perhaps expecting words of “I am so sorry”
or “don’t worry.” Instead they are given a whole new perspective-remember. Not
a word of lecture, but an invitation to step out of the tomb.
Remember what Jesus said. Buried inside you is what
will allow you to respond in faith and give strength for living. Those words
were not just something in the past. It’s not just a day, it is a different
reality. This is the good news! Christ promised to conquer death and rise! And
He has! This changes everything!
When our lives feel like cold dark places, or we
feel trapped and wish someone would roll away the stone and free us, or we’ re
afraid, or perplexed, or grieving, we look for something more than a memory or
a cliché. We want something that changes everything. But just like those first
believers we will need each other to see it. And to remember. That is the reason
I handed out bells today. To ring when we hear “alleluia” because sometimes we
need help to remember. To see glimpses of the risen Christ in our midst and to listen
for the alleluia … there it goes.
Because when we see and hear and share it helps all
of us remember there really is a new reality. It strengthens the faith we’ve
been given. We cannot experience that alone. We all see it differently and even
gradually. Notice today in the gospel for example, the women don’t see Jesus.
They saw an empty tomb and heard an invitation into more. They left with words
and a growing faith. Continuing to grow as together they walked, and saw and
heard, remembering. Little by little they came to a new understanding. It dawned
upon them as they remembered and then began to grasp that Christ is risen and a
whole new possibility is before them! And no matter who they’ve been, Christ is
risen and there is nothing that stops that reality.
We know our world’s reality happens every day. To
rise above it we need our faith every day as well. Otherwise while Christ is
risen and that changes everything, it is possible for us to miss out on the joy
and the promise and never really leave all that other stuff behind. So
remember. Step out of the tomb and be changed!
We are all here for a lot of reasons. But today I
want to give an invitation-If coming here feels like paying a visit to the
cemetery; if this is only a place that reminds you of history; If this is a
just a day of social obligations or tradition, or just a moment that is the
prelude to dinner and candy: I invite you- to step out of that tomb and remember
Jesus’ words.
Because if we leave here without a sense of the
living, our faith will wither as fast as these lilies. I doubt that’s what we
came looking for. I know it is not what God desires. God wants to Easter
us-change us. Bring new life. Restore us. Show us what real love looks like.
Give us what we need for the roads we travel every day not just one hour this
day. The real reason to be here and keep journeying together is …..we believe
that the empty tomb reveals that the cross changes everything. That Christ
victorious for us and with us is powerful and God’s love is real. But we need
to keep coming, seeing, listening and sharing. Isn’t it there are so many here
today?
Don’t put Jesus away with the plastic eggs until
next year. Come again next week and share as we remember together the power of
what Christ has begun. Take the journey with us as we leave the tomb behind, listen
for alleluia, and celebrate the risen Christ.
It’s not a lecture. It’s an invitation to remember
and believe.
Because everything really has changed. Alleluia!!
