If you are meeting us here this morning, I might know something about you. Without a magazine or online quiz, I may deduct that you are a morning person, a lark, early bird. You may even be wondering why we didn’t make the time for this service earlier as the scheduled sunrise was 6:05 am this morning!
You will then understand how early it was on that first Resurrection morning. Mary, mother of James and Mary Magdalene rose to anoint the body of Jesus. Since Jesus’ death, hardly anyone slept as they waited to do what they had planned to care for his body. Do you know that feeling? When you don’t even need to set an alarm, because your whole body wakes up, before the appointed time. You vigilantly aware of what you need to do.
When you are rising before the sun for surgery or sitting vigil at the bed of loved one, and you wonder if you really feel asleep at all during the night.
The Marys, Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of James, were bereft, barely able contain their own grief and sadness. They didn’t want their friends to have to the agony of the task – the death of her son, was already enough. And they wanted to do something, feel useful. Many of us know that feeling – we want to do something.
The women started towards the tomb as the first streaks of light shone on the horizon. They only needed enough light to be able to see the path before them bringing with them only burial spices. The only detail to be determined was the removal of the stone from the Joseph of Arimathea. Each had turned it over in her mind as nautical twilight drew near.
The quiet quick footsteps on the path approached the tomb as an earthquake moved the earth. The stone was rolled away. As they drew near, the angel greeted them. In dazzling light, they say the glow of brilliance and heard the voice of the angel:
“Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.
He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said.”
With fear and joy, the gospel writer takes time to record, they quickly re-oriented their objective for the morning. What they had spent the last two days preparing for – the burial of Jesus – was suddenly – changed, he is alive!
Next plan. Okay. You can hear the Marys saying one to the other. We will go the where the disciples are in the Upper Room. Mary, mother of James, you can lead with the first part setting the scene about how we were at the tomb as the sun rose, Mary Magdalene would have begun as they turned on their way away from the tomb. In wanting to be useful, they finally knew what to do, they needed to share this incredible story.
Our minds whirl like the Marys; and we, too want to help. We cannot be physically close to one another in this time, but we can be relationally close. So, on this Easter morning, I encourage you to pass the peace with your church family and loved ones by taking a moment to text or call people and let them know you are thinking about them. Send your Easter photo, or post it on social media and tag West Grove UMC to maintain your connectional nature, even in physical distancing. You will be amazed how much a text or call can brighten someone’s day. Sharing your visual story and passing the peace mirrors the Easter moment.
This is where the Marys were when Jesus met them. Very first witnesses of resurrection. Two startled women trying to plan their way out of grief, work their way out of pain, offer goodness amid the worst that happened on Friday. When Jesus met them.
Have you been out walking during this time of social distancing? The birds are singing; the trees are budding; daffodils are blossoming. Spring came and met us, even in this unusual time. I love the vibrant colors and the trees in bloom. But my favorite sight is a single flower, like a hardy daffodil, that has broken through the asphalt or the concrete, the weeds and the mess to bud and blossom. Vibrant yellow and bright green against muted tan concrete and twisted overgrown weeds. It is a reminder that at least one good thing in the middle of hard and trying time. We have all had days recently where needed that reminder. This is our visual reminder of that resurrection in that place.
But then, it hit me. Resurrection changes everything and that means everything. It does not mean that just one thing that happened in one place, at one time in history to one individual. No, the resurrection of Jesus changes everything. And the invitation from the daffodil image resounds back – Can I see beyond the hardness of the asphalt and concrete, weeds and brush to see goodness and beauty? Can I see the gifts of grace in the mud and muck? This is more than optimism; this is resurrection. The resurrection means that the bad can be made into good, fundamentally and intrinsically changed through Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Colossians 1:20 captures Paul’s writing that God is making all things into good – redeeming all things in eternity. This means that the worst thing, God dying, Jesus the Christ’s death, is being made good – redeemed – due to resurrection and eternal life. The daffodil in the mess is a symbol of God’s eternal goodness. And Jesus meets us where we are, to make sure that we know – whether that is a physical quarantine or in place of pain and sorrow. Jesus meets us to proclaim, “I am alive. Go and tell the others!”
This is the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Thanks be to God, Amen.
Matthew 28: 1-10
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.
But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said.
Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.”
So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!”
And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them,“Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
This is the word of God, for the people of God,Thanks be to God, Amen.