Today a stranger asked, “What are you discussing as you walk along?”
Indeed …
Somewhere or other I heard of a Sunday School teacher who had just finished telling her 3rd graders about how Jesus was crucified & placed in a tomb with a great stone sealing off the only way in or out. Then, wanting to share the excitement of the resurrection, and the surprise of Easter morning, she asked: "And what do you think were Jesus' first words when he came bursting out of that tomb alive." A hand shot up into the air from the rear of the classroom. It belonged to a most excited little girl. Leaping out of her chair she shouted out excitedly, "I know, I know, I know." … "Good," said the teacher, "Tell us."
Extending her arms high in the air she sang out: "TA - DA!" (Source: esermons.comThe Magic in Easter, Leininger)
Easter is Resurrection.
Easter is a Time of Hope
There still is fear, there still is a painful awareness of sinfulness, but there also is light breaking through. Something new is happening, something that goes beyond the changing moods of our life. We can be joyful or sad, optimistic or pessimistic, tranquil or angry, but the solid stream of God’s Presence moves deeper than the small waves of our minds & hearts.
Easter brings the awareness that God is present even when the divine presence is not directly noticed.
Easter brings the good news that, although things seem to get worse in the world, the evil has already been overcome. Easter allows us to affirm that although God seems very distant & although we remain preoccupied with many little things, our Jesus walks with us on the road & keeps explaining the Scriptures to us.
Thus there are many rays of hope casting the light on our way through life.
From time to time people ask me if the resurrection of Jesus can be proved. It can't. What's more, Jesus himself has never wanted it proved.
He has always wanted followers, not detectives.
Listen to this true story ….
A new pastor was visiting one of his church members who was in the hospital. The pastor was a young man, fresh out of seminary & still wet behind the ears as a minister. He was visiting this elderly man named Joe, & Joe was extremely ill. He wanted to talk to his pastor about his funeral
2 service & the pastor wanted to talk about anything else – the weather, football, politics, or anything else he could think of. Finally, the pastor asked, "Joe, doesn't it bother you? Aren't you frightened?" Joe smiled and said, "Preacher, I know I'm not going to make it, but I'm not afraid. I have a confession to make. I've taken a peek at the back of the book."
"What do you mean?" the minister asked.Joe said, "You didn't know me 10 years ago when I had my first heart attack. They called it cardiac arrest. I can remember the medical team thinking I was dead. I can also remember the tremendous feeling of being surrounded by God's love. I was revived by the doctors, but ever since that day I have been unafraid to die. I've been there & it doesn't frighten me. I know that one day soon I am going to go to sleep & I believe that when I awaken, I will, once again, be surrounded by God's love."
(Source: esermons.com/I’ve Peeked at the Back of the Book)This is the message of the first Easter.
This is the message of this Easter.
The tomb is empty.
Christ is risen.
Jesus is alive.
And because of this, we too, shall live!
We, like those disciples walking to Emmaus before us,
know the burning in our hearts as we gather to break the bread.
Feel the presence.
Jesus still walks with us.
Jesus still asks us to return to Jerusalem to tell the others.
Is Resurrection real?
You decide, but remember at this Liturgical celebration of New Life
… how, as Peter said, God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power.
ALLELUIA!