03/31/2024 ~ Resurrection of the Christ ~ A.K.A. Easter Day ~ *Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 or
Mark 16:1-8 ~ VIDEO OF FULL SERVICE: https://vimeo.com/showcase/7960701/video/929891619

Resurrections

“…Mary ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple— the one whom Jesus loved— and said, ‘The Rabbi has been taken from of the tomb! We do not know where they have put Jesus.’” — John 20:2.

The sky was the first to know about the approaching sun and seemed to sense what was happening as it happened. The sky knew this identifiable shade of brightness which was just slightly brighter than the dense core of night.

Winter is tenacious but it does slowly pass into Spring— Spring, when the sky does become empowered to paint new pictures on the face of the earth. Perhaps because she had a sense of that moment when this new light happens, the eyes of Mary of Magdala, who had been sleeping, were suddenly open.

As incredible as it sounds just as the sky knew morning was approaching, so did she. But today seemed strangely different to her. She did not know what it was about but somehow this dawning day felt distinct, separate.

This cycle of sensing a new day started right after her friend, the Rabbi, Jesus, had been executed by the State. That was, of course, now some thirty years ago.

As she rested in her bed, a little unsure that it had been that long ago she stared at the ceiling and suddenly she realized— yes!— it had been nearly thirty years to the day. Yes! It was in the Spring, around the feast of Pesach, Passover.

Of course, what happened— her involvement— did not end with the execution. And she had seen the execution with her own eyes. Then just three days later she saw her friend Jesus again… and then again… and then again.

And so every day for those thirty years Mary woke up at this time, when the sky knew the dawn was coming, exactly the same time she had set out to visit the tomb. Even now, all these years later, part of her could not make logical sense of what had happened. The Rabbi was executed. And yet the Rabbi was with them. (Slight pause.)

There was a knock on the door. She put her feet on the floor and stood. Mary could hear two men speaking. “Peter and John,” she thought. “Here already.”

“Come ahead,” she shouted.

Rusty hinges creaked and the heavy door to her house swung open. John and Peter entered. Peter called out, “Good morning Mags!” Her close friends called her Mags because she was from Magdala.

“You’re early,” she said. “The markets will not yet be open. We will not be able get food for Pesach, the Passover meal, at this time of day.”

Peter, the older of the two, smiled knowingly. “Yes, Pesach.” (Slight pause.) “You do know what today is, Mags, do you not?”

“The Day of Passover begins when the sun sets,” she said.

“Yes,” John allowed. “That too.”

“There’s something else?” she asked. “What’s more important than Pesach.”

Peter sighed. “You do know it is thirty years to the day.”

Mags let out a sigh, then responded. “I knew it was around this time. So then, it’s thirty years since the execution.”

John reached out and touched her shoulder. “No, Mags. It’s thirty years since the third day, thirty years since we saw Jesus.”

“Oh, I should have known. I often wake up when the sky begins to brighten, exactly at the same time I woke up and went to the tomb. But today, when my eyes opened, today seemed different. I should have known.”

“Well,” said Peter, “we need to remember Jesus is still with us. Jesus walks with us every day.”

Then John spoke. “I think a piece of the covenant promise is it’s not just that the Rabbi lives. It’s that we also live. God is with us. God walks with us. God surrounds us with love each day of our lives.” (Slight pause.)

There was a long silence, as if they were taking in the reality, the feelings, the truth John had just turned into words. Finally Mags spoke. “I’ll never forget that first time I knew Jesus was standing there, with me.”

“I had gone to the tomb. You both followed but then left. I suddenly realized the Rabbi stood right in front of me and very clearly said, ‘Do not hold on to me,…’”

“I also remember after that after Jesus returned none of us ever did reach out to touch the Rabbi. But Jesus was there, with us, present. The fact of that presence, that reality— that Jesus was with us— was overwhelming. And yes, the presence of Jesus was just like it had been, just as real as it had been before the execution.”

Again there was a silence, as if they were all taking in the reality Mags had expressed, the truth Mags had turned into words.

“Perhaps that’s why I wake up when I do,” allowed Mags. “You see, I left for the tomb when light began to glow in the sky.”

Once again there was silence. Then Mags spoke again. “Perhaps because of that presence, the reality of it, I understand the resurrection is a part of the promise of covenant.”

“And yes, I wake up with the light but the light that I now really know about, the light that is in every fibre of my being, is the light of God, the light of the Rabbi, the light of Jesus, the light of the Christ, the light of the promise of God shining out in the deepest night. And that promise, the light of that promise of God shining out in the deepest night, is a promise of new light, new life, of resurrection.” (Slight pause.)

Peter and John stood there silently and simply nodded. Then Peter said, “Yes, the promise of new light, new life, resurrection is for all of us.” (Slight pause.)

There was again a long silence. Then John said, “Yes, the promise of new light, new life, a promise of resurrection is for all of us… not just now but always.” Mags nodded. “Resurrection is for all of us.” (Pause.) Amen.

03/31/2024 ~ Easter Sunday
Elijah Kellogg Church, Harpswell, Maine

ENDPIECE: It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, before the Benediction. This is a précis of what was said: “I need to say three things: first, please join come Coffee Hour right down the hall. Greet your friends and neighbors this morning. Next, in Aramaic, the language which would have been spoken in Roman Palestine in New Testament times, to be saved meant to be made alive. Nextd, I am sure the well known American composer Irving Berlin was a nice fellow. He wrote Easter Parade and also a lesser know Easter Song, It’s a Lovely Day, Happy Easter. I want to suggest, however, that to merely say, ‘Happy Easter’ is not a Christian sentiment. So, let me make this suggestion: if someone walks up to you and says, ‘Happy Easter’ shake their hand and say, ‘Christ is risen.’ ‘Christ is risen’ is the Christian sentiment.”

BENEDICTION: Hear now this blessing and then please join with me in the responsive Easter acclamation found in the bulletin. May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the love of Christ, Jesus, and in the knowledge of the Holy Spirit this day and forever. And now please join with me in the Easter Acclamation.

ONE: Rejoice, people of God! Christ is risen from the dead! Go in peace to love and serve God. Christ is with you always. Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
MANY: Christ is risen, indeed. Alleluia.