The Wonder of Resurrection

A short reflection on Easter morning.

Happy Resurrection Sunday to you. As you read this morning, and as you gather with the Body of Christ to celebrate, remember that there are billions with you throughout the world today. I don’t know if that’s an encouragement to you or not. It is something though.

Even so, let us not forget the small, simplicity of Jesus of Nazareth. I don’t mean smallish, like insignificant (of course). What I want to remember is that the cross was made of but wood, and the tomb, of but stone. As grandiose as the Holy Sepulchre is now, or as tight as the music may be where you worship this morning, or as sharp as even the own clothes on your body may be…

Jesus was “nothing more” than a human dedicated to God. Perfect? Yeah, sure. Son of God? Okay. But his constant reminder that the whole point is submission to God and living out his will - that is the end. That is the goal.

So dress up pretty. Eat lots of good food. And be inspired by whatever music and message you hear today. (For real - I hope you can do all of this.) But as you return home, remember that the Spirit of Christ is with you. You.

And, Happy Easter.

Luke 24:1-12

Very early in the morning on the first day of the week, the women went to the tomb, bringing the fragrant spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. They didn’t know what to make of this. Suddenly, two men were standing beside them in gleaming bright clothing. The women were frightened and bowed their faces toward the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He isn’t here, but has been raised. Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee, that the Human One must be handed over to sinners, be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words. When they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven and all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. Their words struck the apostles as nonsense, and they didn’t believe the women. But Peter ran to the tomb. When he bent over to look inside, he saw only the linen cloth. Then he returned home, wondering what had happened.

Prayer

God,

Thank you for establishing life.
And when we’ve done our human best to sully it,
to extinguish it,
to make it something less by trying to make it more,
thank you for redeeming life to its fullest through the simplest of terms.

Help us to live into the rebirth.
Lead us into resurrection.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.