Practice Resurrection!

Easter Sunday
4/20/14
Matt 28:1-10

In the Name of the one who lived, died and rose again so that we might know forgiveness and everlasting life, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Welcome and Happy Easter!  Such a beautiful church and a beautiful day.  It’s quite a gift when creation reflects the glory of the resurrection we celebrate on Easter Sunday.

In Matthew’s gospel all of creation reflects the divine events taking place over these three days.  They are just too big – too important – to not send aftershocks into the earth itself.

When Jesus is dying on the cross – darkness overshadows the whole land.  When Jesus cries out and breathes his last – the curtain of the temple, the very fabric of reality, is torn in two; the earth trembles and rocks shatter.

And three days later, when the women (and just the women) courageously make their way to Christ’s tomb in the eerie first light of dawn – an earthquake rumbles the ground under their feet as lightning strikes amidst an angel’s descent.

For just as the heavens and earth were filled with the glory of God when Christ broke into the world – the heavens and earth resound with the glory of God when Christ breaks free from the bonds of death!

Earlier this week I was talking to someone at a dinner party.  She was telling me about attending an Easter service at St. Thomas’ on 5^th Avenue in New York City.  Amazing architecture – it’s enormous – world-famous boys choir.  If you like church buildings – it’s a must see.

Anyway she is there amidst the throngs, standing in her pew as this gospel is proclaimed.  And when the words – And suddenly there was a great earthquake – aloud – her heartbeat quickens as she literally feels the floor start to shake and tremble underneath her feet and she is like – What…is….happening?  And for the rest of the service she is wide-eyed with that feeling of – holy….moley – wondering – what is God trying to tell me!

Later that day while sharing this life-changing moment with someone – they casually inform her – well, I don’t think that was God exactly, because you know  – the 4, 5, and 6 subway runs directly underneath St. Thomas’ so what you thought was divine intervention was probably just the express train!

Was that a let down for her?  No.  Because, as she and I agreed - if I’m listening to holy scripture about an earthquake – and at that exact moment the earth under my feet starts shaking – I don’t care what the reason – you better believe I’m going to assign some significance to that occurrence and consider it more than just a coincidence.  That would get my attention.  The simultaneous reaction of creation is intended to do exactly that - get our attention.  

Because resurrection: the act of life conquering death; of light overcoming darkness; of love defeating hate; resurrection is the most important event of the Christian life!  The redemptive and restorative act of God which forever and eternally changed our relationship with God – and upon which our faith is built. 

Which is why it is also – the hardest act for so many to believe.  I would imagine loads of people – religious or not – would find at least some synchronicity in my friend who felt the ground shake when hearing a story about the same thing.  But ask people if they believe that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead – and many more people – Christians included – struggle to explain how we believe in something so unverifiable.  It’s beyond belief.

Why is that?  Well – I think we believe it more than we know.

Let’s change gears.  If I sing these three words – Let it go – what movie am I referring to?  Yes – “Frozen” – show of hands – who has seen it – ok if you’re worried about spoilers, they’re coming, so start tuning out - if you haven’t already.

I don’t know about you – but I loved that movie – couldn’t stop singing after I left – despite the pleas from my daughter to stop embarrassing her in the Hunt Valley parking lot.  Thanks to people like me and you – and millions more – this is the highest grossing animated movie of all time.  And like all of those types of movies there are princesses and princes – who we expect to save the day, and the girl, as they always do – with a kiss – prince to princess - of the romantic variety.

I’m not going through the whole thing – but in the end – in the climatic, culminating event when all of creation reflects the sturm und drang of the story – what happens?  As the heroine, Princess Anna struggles to stay alive, her heart literally freezing to death, she fights to make her way through the raging storm.  Trying to get to her ‘prince’ Kristoff for that kiss, that true love kiss which is supposed to save her from death.

But then she sees her sister, Elsa about to be killed by the evil villain. So what does she do? She changes course and instead of saving herself she sacrifices herself and throws herself in front of the fatal blow.  Her heart stops - it freezes.  She dies – it’s the end.

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (Jn 15:13)

No matter the story, the death part – the letting go part – saying goodbye – it always has to happen first.

And then we learn what “true love” really is.  It’s not the romantic kind.  True love – is sacrificial love.   Acting on behalf of another, giving of self on behalf of another – that is true love – and what does it lead to?  For Princess Anna?  Her sister?  The whole community? 

Resurrection.

The world doesn’t disbelieve resurrection.  Quite the opposite.  We are a people desperately yearning to experience resurrection – so much so – that we have cooperatively spent $1.11 billion (and counting) to watch an animated version of it – and it’s certainly not the only one.  Turn on the TV – and watch a show with Resurrection for a title!  

And yes, it is hard to believe that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead – because you’re right – there will never be a definitive “C.S.I. Jerusalem” that’s going to be able to prove it beyond a shadow of doubt – so ask yourself this – why for over 2,000 years do we keep telling – and listening to the story? 

Or better yet, ask yourself this, when has someone sacrificed for me - bringing light to my darkness – when has someone brought new life into mine?

Ask yourself, when has the ground underneath my feet given way because unexpected news changed everything – but here I am – I made it through.

When have we seen the devastation – of an earthquake, a tornado, a hurricane – and then seen the hands and feet of those who sacrifice their money and energy to get to work rebuilding?

When did I see – the towers my parents worked in crash to the ground – and then in the weeks and months that followed watched throngs of people enter the city to feed and comfort and work alongside people – just like you and me – to do what – to bring new life.

In all those situations – yours, mine, ours – Jesus was right there when the earth and hearts were torn in two.  And then just like at the empty tomb – Jesus is out there, in front – calling us to get up – go! Join with God to show that out of death comes life.

Resurrection isn’t something we believe in or not.  Resurrection is something we practice, or not.  We read the gospel, and tell lots of other stories – animated and otherwise – to remind ourselves that resurrection is real.  It’s like faith – how can you explain it? We don’t need to explain it – we need to point to it.  To see it and participate in it and tell about it.  We need to practice resurrection – that is what fully connects us with meaningful living – here and now.

You have been raised with Christ – Alleluia!  That’s what we give thanks for today. So set your minds on things from above and use your hands and your heart – to be and bring “Alleluia” into those places that need resurrection!  Jesus is out there ahead of you – don’t be afraid – practice, practice, practice – not because we’ll ever be perfect – but because it will reveal to you everything that matters – the the alpha and omega – the beginning and the end of love and joy known fully through life in God through Jesus Christ.  Amen.

- The Rev. Arianne R. Weeks