May 29, 2019

The Tomb is Empty

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, or when the sun had risen (depending on which gospel you read), Mary Magdalene and various women go to the tomb where Jesus was laid to either finish the burial rite or to simply mourn his death.

People can get caught up in the minutiae of an event that leads them to miss or invalidate the prime truth the event, and this is one of them. Was it still dark or wasn't it? Was it only Mary Magdalene at the tomb, or was her and another woman, or was it her and three or four other women? Did they bring spices or didn't they? Was the rock already rolled away or was it rolled away as they approached? Again, it depends on which gospel story you read. But none of that is the prime truth of the event.

The prime truth of the event, and therefore the prime truth of the gospel, all four of them, is that the tomb was empty. The women went to the tomb to finish the burial rite, and the tomb was empty. Mary went alone to the tomb to mourn the death of her friend, and the tomb was empty. And after seeing the empty tomb, there are four different response.

The women go and tell the disciples, and they are believed. The women flee in terror and say nothing to anyone. The women go and tell the disciples, and are dismissed as silly women. Mary tells two of the disciples who then run to verify her account.

The tomb is empty. We are now in the position of the women. Will we tell people about the good news of the resurrection, or will we say nothing to anyone for fear of how we will be perceived?

The tomb is empty.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Blessings,

May 22, 2019

Power

Power is an interesting thing. We tend to think of power as equal to strength or force. Military power, for example. Or physical strength and power. Or maybe we think of power as equal to control.

But is that what power really is?

In the Gospel of John, Jesus and Pilate have a discussion about what power is and who holds it. I've pointed out several times that part of the reason we are to forgive others is so that their harmful actions will not hold power over us. The power of the Civil Rights movement, while not completely fulfilled, stood in the face of violence and hatred. Many martial arts are predicated on the transference of power; ie using the strength and aggressiveness of the other to your advantage. We used to think that death had power over us, but Christ destroyed that power through the power of his resurrection.

In our journey with Christ, we learn about a different kind of power – a power based on the love of God. This is a power that stands in the face of evil to proclaim the love of God to all. This is a power that says, “We are not afraid.” This is a power that says life is changed, not ended. There is a power in living in the assured grace of God.

It's not always easy, but it's powerful.

As we move through the Easter season, may we continue to find places of resurrection. May we continue to find opportunities to proclaim the Good News of God in Christ. May we continue to grow in our discipleship and faithfulness, as our own resurrection energies and abilities are released into the world.

That is a powerful witness.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Blessings,

May 15, 2019

Embodiment

“Eat this bread. Drink this wine. This is my body. This is my blood.”

Every Sunday we hear these and similar words at Communion as I read the Institution Narrative and the epiclesis. Every Sunday bread and wine are substantially changed as they are infused with the real presence of Jesus Christ. Every Sunday these creatures of bread and wine become holy gifts for holy people, the bread of life and the cup of salvation. And every Sunday we are fed and nourished by our Lord through the sacrifice he made.

In partaking of that holy meal we are also infused with the real presence of Jesus Christ. In partaking of that holy meal we are also substantially changed.

This is one aspect of embodiment; that we feed on him who died for us and, through that feeding, become embodied with the presence of Christ.

But there is another aspect to the embodiment of Christ, and that is our sharing in the totality of his life. We share in not only his life, but his baptism, his ministry, his death, and his resurrection. And this may be the most difficult part of embodiment – to embody Christ in our daily lives. To live our lives respecting the dignity of every human being. To seek and serve Christ in all people. To recognize differences yet respect and honor the image of God in all people. To walk daily in the footsteps of Christ. To live a life of discipleship in a way that embodies Christ always. This is the hard work of embodiment. This is the hard work of discipleship.

It's hard work, but it is worth it in so many ways.

How are you the embodiment of Christ in the world around you?

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Blessings,

May 8, 2019

Victory

When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.

Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

1 Cor. 15:54-55

During the Easter season we celebrate Christ's victory over death. We remember that neither the powers of this world nor death have any hold over us. More than any other time of the year, we proclaim the power of the Resurrection.

In the current world climate with daily mass shootings, the bombings of synagogues, mosques, and churches, the rise of white supremacy and nationalism, the scapegoating of easy targets, wars and rumors of wars, it can be easy to forget this. It can be easy to forget that death has lost. It can be easy to forget that the powers of hell have been vanquished. It can be easy to forget all this because it seems as if these things, not Christ, have won.

Unfortunately too many people, when faced with the paradox of Christ's victory in a world filled with death, offer simplistic platitudes – a pie-in-the-sky-by-and-by attitude telling people it will all be okay in the end while doing nothing to help in the now. In the current climate, many people are wondering about that victory and whether or not they will be okay.

Christ died for the sin, and sins, of the world. Christ died to put an end to death. Christ died so that we might live. Christ embodies a death-defeating, life-giving power that can and will save and heal. But in order for that power to be unleashed in the world, we must live as if we believe it. We must live lives that challenge all that attempt to destroy what God has wrought.

For us to continue to challenge death and hate, for us to plant the seeds of love and inclusion, then we must continue to proclaim Christ crucified and resurrected, and we must feed, tend, and feed others. Only then will the victory of Christ be made known to the world.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Blessings,

May 1, 2019

New Life

“Behold, I am making all things new” – Rev. 21:5

The resurrection of Jesus Christ wasn't just the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is also the beginnings of the resurrection of all creation. When Jesus was resurrected, his life was changed, not ended. So we also proclaim at our funeral services, “Life is changed, not ended.”

This change is evident in the resurrection. Mary Magdalene didn't recognize him at the tomb. When Jesus showed himself to the disciples, some believed while others doubted. I think that doubt arises from an inability to grasp the power of the resurrection.

But again, this change, this resurrection, doesn't only apply to Jesus – it applies to all of creation.

All things are being made new. The first heaven and the first earth will pass away as a new heaven and a new earth come into being. This is the resurrection of creation that began with the resurrection of Jesus. From the innermost parts of our atomic makeup to the vast expanse of interstellar space, all things are being made new.

As we move forward through the Easter season, how are you being made new? As we end our Lenten fast and live into Easter, how have you been changed?

How do you see this idea of resurrection, of life being changed not ended, of Christ making all things new, play out in the life of our parish?

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Blessings,