March 30, 2002
What a grand day for a baptism. Tonight we have the privilege of welcoming Jessica Rose Burleigh and Ezra Scott Elsbury into our Christian family. We welcome them in as we celebrate the great truth that gives us hope and joy. We welcome them into our Christian family in this season of Alleluias and Good News.
Let us turn to the Good News as handed down to us by John. Paying attention to some of the details shared by him, I want to suggest that we live, daily, with the drama of the Resurrection. The drama of death and resurrection celebrated in this holy season, is part of our everyday if we have the eyes to recognize it.
The Good News begins in darkness John tells us. Mary started on her way to the tomb "while it was still dark." (Jn 20:1) It was dark with the betrayal of Judas. It was dark with the cowardice of the disciples. It was dark with the denials of Peter. It was dark with the weakness and fear of Pilate. It was dark with the hatred of the religious leaders. It was dark with the glee of the devil. Despite the darkness, Mary began her walk to the tomb.
She probably didn't know what else to do. Perhaps she was going to the tomb to mourn, or just to sit and remember. We don't know. Even though she did not understand about resurrection yet, her instincts were leading her in the right direction. Even though it was dark, she knew the way to the light and was following it.
Here is the first piece of living the drama of death and resurrection every day. Surely we have experienced the darkness, or may yet enter that darkness. Draw inspiration from Mary Magdalene. While it is still dark (physically, emotionally, spiritually) find the inner strength to move to the Lord. Even if your heart believes there is nothing the Lord can give you, even if your heart is fainting within you and believes that the Lord is dead, rouse yourself, set yourself in motion toward the Lord. As this story suggests the effort, no matter how difficult or meaningless it may seem, will be blessed.
Arriving at the tomb, Mary sees that the stone has been removed. She makes a quick assessment and hurries back to the Peter and the others. Unable to imagine anything else, she blurts out that "they" have taken the body of Jesus. Unable to imagine anything else the darkness becomes even blacker if that is possible: not only have they killed him, but now they have hidden his body, removed him totally from us. Now there is a chill, a perverse coldness to go with the disturbing darkness.
Peter and the other disciple run to confirm this news. Some additional details are now given us: indeed the stone is removed, they can see into the tomb and can walk into the tomb, and it contains no body, but the cloths used to wrap the body are still there. We are told that Peter and the other disciple did not "as yet . . . understand the scripture, that [Jesus] must rise from the dead." (Jn 20:9) I wonder what this unnamed disciple believed as he puzzled at the sight. John next announces that, without another word spoken to each other, Peter and the other disciple "returned to their homes." (Jn 20:10)
So what can we learn from this turn of events? How can any of this story help us in our walk with the Lord? Can it be that this same drama is part of our lives, too?
Why do you suppose the stone was removed? Certainly not so Jesus could get out of the tomb (we will learn later that no lock or door or barred window can keep him from those he loves). As this story unfolds, the Good News is that the stone was removed so that Mary and Peter and the other disciple could see in. God, apparently, moved things around so that they could see—and come to believe. In your own spiritual journey, then, draw strength from this knowledge.
If you are moving toward the Lord, even if you are still in the darkness, even at its coldest and blackest, even if you are following instinct and walk with uncertainty, believe that God will do what is necessary to remove all that is blocking your vision. You will be able to see the hand of the Lord at work in your here and now. You will be able to move from unbelief to belief with God's help.
How many times have we been like Mary? With a few facts in our grasp we rush to a conclusion that is down-to-earth, within our realm of experience, sensible. In this part of the story our God tells us: your imagination is too stunted, your dreams for tomorrow too small, your power to accomplish anything too little. But, with me, God says in this Easter season, let your imagination grow, your dreams expand, your power to create become infinite.
After the two disciples leave in silence, Mary remains. She is waiting, though it is never clear what she expects to find. Like Mary, we may need to wait. Up to now the focus has been upon the empty tomb, and the next part of our story continues in that direction with 2 angels now appearing and conversing with Mary. But then the real action, the real Good News arrives.
While still talking with the angels perhaps Mary sensed his presence. Turning away from the angels dressed in white she talks to a man she thought was the gardener. She wants to know where he has put the body, and assures him that she will take it away. She is still working within her own limited experience and assumptions. Perhaps her own tears blinded her to the truth about the man she was talking with. We will never know for sure, but we do know that as soon as he spoke her name, "Mary," she knew.
For me, this is the Good News of Easter. No one was there to see Jesus rise from the dead. What happened in the tomb to resurrect Jesus will never be known, it is part of the mystery. But what is known is that Jesus, outside the tomb, appeared to Mary Magdalene, appeared to Peter and the others, appeared to 500 all at once, according to Paul. In those meetings people were changed. The empty tomb wasn't the point. The encounter with the Risen Lord was everything.
In the space of time that it took to speak her name Mary was bathed in light, the darkness forever dispelled. Her tears of sorrow were transformed into tears of joy. It is easy to imagine the beauty of her smile in that moment or recognition.
The empty tomb is not the point. The appearance of angels is not the point. Jesus left little doubt, in this and subsequent meetings, that we should be prepared to encounter him, the Risen Lord, in ordinary places, sometimes he may even look like the gardener. We need to be ready, like Mary, to go and tell others that we have "seen the Lord." We need to be ready to help others like our parents tonight to share these faith stories with their children. Let Jessica, let Ezra, know about the Risen Lord. We need to be ready to encourage each other with stories of the Risen Lord come to dispel darkness, come to wipe away tears of sadness and sorrow, come to call your name in tenderness and life, come to restore life and joy.
The faith into which Jessica and Ezra are about to be baptized is the faith that was set in motion in the ordinary encounter between Mary Magdalene and a man she thought was a gardener. It is a faith sustained in good times and bad, through easy times and difficult times. It is a faith expressed in every language known to humans. It is a faith rich in stories, beyond the encounters in the first century AD, of how the Risen Lord was able to move ordinary folks like you and me from darkness into light, from despair into hope, from illness and death into wholeness and life. For every generation, ours included, has experienced the Risen Lord celebrated in Easter.
What a great gift you are giving your children this Easter. As we witness the baptism of Jessica and Ezra let us be attentive. For the empty tomb has remained just that: empty. But, the Risen Lord continues to move among us—every day—in every place, including this church tonight. And that is very good news.
So we pray: Heavenly Father, let us take this story to heart. Help us understand, in the midst of darkness, that you are light; give us strength, give us courage, to seek you even in the darkest moments. Though we do not understand fully, bless us with hearts to believe and trust your Word. Bless us with clear vision and hearing, day by day, that we might see your hand at work in our world, and hear the voice of our Risen Lord call our name. Bless us with the words to share our knowledge and love of you. Let these two children be for us a reminder of our faith, and an invitation to share our stories. May we always give you the glory who bless us and sustain us in Jesus our Lord. Amen.
The Rev. Daniel Rondeau
drondeau@stmargarets.org
March 30, 2002