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Today is the third in seven weeks of Eastertide. The color white
is maintained throughout this time, visible in the draping of
the cross, on the crown of thorns and on the table that
represents the truth of the Resurrection. Like Communion,
Eastertide is not just a time we remember Jesus. It is a time
when we are made conscious of the living presence of Christ in
our midst. It is also a time of awareness of the transforming
power of Christ’s presence in our lives as well.
Last week the sermon focused
on the appearance of Jesus with his disciples following his
death. Jesus appeared to those closest to him first, showing
them the wounds on his body, so that they might believe. Last
week, we considered that Jesus revealing his resurrected self,
was not just for the original disciples, but for all believers
past, present and future. Jesus’ revelation of himself was given
so that we might recognize him in our own lives so that we might
believe too. But Jesus had to die for this to become
possible.
Death is not a subject we like to discuss,
particularly in our culture. “We prefer to stay focused on the
positive”, we declare, “not the negative.” “Death is
depressing,” we claim, “and life is too short to dwell on the
end.” Nonetheless, such thoughts do not prevent the occurrence
of death in our lives. Death comes whether we give it credence
or not. When we do not look for the presence of Christ during
these times, we are left with little preparation of how to find
our way through this part of our life’s revealing journey.
For the last few months I have led a Grief group
in our church for those who have lost someone important in their
lives. The participants are both members and those from the
community. Some of the deaths have been spouses; others grieve
an adult child and another, a young grandson. Others who are not
in this group have mentioned how depressing this must be to meet
with each week with everyone crying. This is simply not the
case. There is laughter over sharing their memories; the joy in
celebrating the importance of this person in their lives; the
sharing of how they deal with their loss; and their gratitude to
God for having them as long as they did. It is a time of sharing
ideas and support with those who care for each other along their
own journey. In it all, the revealing presence of Christ in one,
can be the healing presence of Christ for another.
One of the great spiritual gifts I received in
the sudden loss of my own husband, so young and vital, strangely
came as a result of a painful remark. I was in the Social
Security office with forms that had to be filed. The young
woman, focused on her assignment, blithely asked, “And the day
your marriage ended?” It took a few moments for me to realize
she was referring to my husband’s death, and it took my breath
away. I had not heard that phrase before and the finality hit me
hard. It had only been a few days and I had not realized yet,
that I was no longer married.
But I am a believer that God can and does take
our suffering and turn it into something good and life-giving.
Later that month, still smarting from the experience, I remember
being flooded with a healing inspiration of words that came to
me. The day he died was not the day of his permanent death; it
was actually the day of his resurrection. I am certain that this
comforting reminder was Jesus revealing himself to me, in ways
that healed. The pain of hopelessness and finality over death
was not the seal of my faith. But the hope and promise of the
Resurrection was. My husband was not dead; he was alive and so
was I.
These many appearances of Jesus, after his
physical death, is much more than a nice story. It happened; it
was recorded, and if we are honest with ourselves we know that
Jesus appears to us in various ways today. But rarely do we talk
of such things with others and why I am sharing this intimate
experience with you. Such times in our lives are all the more
difficult when we keep them to ourselves.
I am convinced that it is a distinct advantage to
share our “appearances” with others. It is what the disciples
did immediately; they ran to tell the exciting news to
any who would listen. They were not concerned about ridicule or
disbelief from others. They joyously ran to share the news with
everyone they knew. In doing this they did not keep the hope of
the Resurrection to themselves, but brought the news to all,
that death had been conquered forever.
But even so, we do not always follow their
example. We hold back; declare our experiences to be private,
not to be shared. I would like to emphasize that there is a
difference between private and personal. I believe our
appearances are uniquely personal, but they are not all meant to
be private. Such appearances were wonderful news for those who
lived in 30 A.D. and so they are in our time too.
How confusing our lives can be, living in this
world and believing in the next. Last week we celebrated a
prince and the love of his life, getting married in ways that
invited the world to share in their wedding. The pomp, the
circumstance the beauty of it all, took our breath away and for
a moment we were swept into the joy of it all.
Then only days later we heard the dramatic news
that the long sought after terrorist, Osama bin Laden had been
captured and killed. Our country and most of the world, did not
grieve. Rather we thanked God that one who supported such
violence had been stopped, so that others might live. It is
probably not the end of terrorism, but I think there is hope
that good will rise up from it. Maybe others who plan to
perpetrate violence will see that death is not the last
word; life is. Terrorists can kill but they cannot stop the hope
of new life in us. Even the death of our bodies, minds, or
spirits is never the last word.
In our connection with Central Asia Institute,
where violence in Afghanistan and Pakistan is rampant, new life
is being promoted. Villages who have never had the freedom of
education available, now do. Those who had the intellect and
interest to become doctors and teachers in their own land, now
can; right in the midst of a land of terrorism.
One of the most moving stories to come out of
their progress there was the news of a Taliban soldier, who
decided to become a teacher and fight for education, instead of
a life of oppression and killing. What convinced him education
was more powerful than violence? It was the recent education of
his mother in a first school for girls, who vowed that her son
would have a choice. He would not have to become a Taliban
soldier for food. He had the choice to choose education, over
violence. It was his mother’s first taste of education that
allowed her to teach her son that the Taliban was not the best
choice. He could make a difference for others in addition to
himself. This empowered him to summon his courage, leave the
Taliban, and become a teacher. We can be thankful that we were
able to support such freedom in our giving $50,000 towards the
freedom that education can provide. I view the inspiration of so
many in this congregation giving so generously to be the
revealing presence of Christ, among us.
I wonder now what impact the death of Bin Laden
will have on the terrorists. Will they see that in the end it is
love that rules? Will they recognize that they can hide and
kill, but not forever? Will they grasp that other parts of the
world do not support their lead? Will they too, consider a
better way? And I wonder, what is our role in helping others
recognize that truth, mercy and justice carry more power than
guns?
In the continuation through Eastertide, we are to
be alert to the appearances of Jesus in our own lives. Here in
this passage, Jesus came upon two followers along the road. They
were on their way to Emmaus, some seven miles west of Jerusalem.
They were immersed in their grief over the death of Jesus. Their
hopes for a Messiah that would save Jerusalem were dashed and
they were overwhelmed with hopelessness; and it was just at this
point that Jesus appeared.
The timing of this appearance is noteworthy. We
know those times in our own lives where we feel there is little
hope of resolution. We have been turned down for a job; an
important relationship in our lives ends; our health and quality
of life is threatened with a new diagnosis; times where no
solutions seem apparent.
But these are just the times that can turn us to
God, searching for the presence of Christ. They are time when we
cannot find our way and flop around like a fish out of water.
Often we turn first to family and friends who don’t have the
answers either. Then when no relief seems possible we turn
towards God and like the Psalmist, we cry out in hopelessness.
We pray for our own answers and when that does not occur, we
declare God to be absent or uncaring. In our fear and
hopelessness we forget to consider that perhaps what we are
asking for is not the best solution. Perhaps the answer lay in
the presence of Christ that we did not notice, so focused on the
only solutions we could imagine.
How much easier it is for us to see Christ’s love
in the many wonderful moments of our lives; times that transform
and delight us. On this Mother’s Day, we are reminded of God’s
intention in our creation; to be born into a loving family who
raises and teaches us how to love in return; for it is love that
brings us the greatest joy. We know that this is not the case
for all of us. Some of us have had parents who did not know how
to love; while others of us had loving parenting that taught us
much about love.
Whatever the case, this day, like every day, can
be the reminder of love we have received from those who have
impacted our lives. We have received parenting from those who
were not our parents; teachers who wanted us to succeed;
supervisors who could affirm our gifts and gently help us with
things yet to learn. We have had friends who care enough to
stand beside us in difficult times. We have had people with
morals and values who have shown us a better way. Best of all,
we have had people of faith introduce us to God and Jesus as the
only way.
Mother’s Day can be the reminder of the
importance of love in our lives; the love we receive and the
love we offer to others. The gift of mothering is not only
biological, nor is it gender specific. Such love comes from God,
who is both mother and father to us forever. When we receive or
offer this kind of love, it is the presence of Christ who died
so that we might live, and promises to be present with us
always.
I think our faith allows us to break out of the
tomb of our lives; the tombs of fear by speaking up for what is
right; the tomb of worshipping our families more than Christ; or
the tomb of our drive for success, or things. These are not bad
in themselves but if we allow them to take precedence we can be
blinded from an appearance of Christ who offers the joy of
living. We can be blinded from the power of being transformed
with the love we can offer to a hurtful and hurting world.
Yet, both Christians and churches can be blinded
like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus; blinded by our own
difficulties, unable to see solutions or hope in the midst of it
all. The Emmaus story teaches us that the disciples were at
their best when they walked with Jesus, both on the road and in
the telling others what they saw. Our faith journey is not about
instant results; it’s about being on a revealing journey. It’s
not about getting what we want; it’s about receiving more than
our limited minds could ever imagine. Being a disciple is not
only about learning and following Jesus; it is about looking for
Christ in the face of strangers, and knowing that we are not
created to journey alone. The purpose of the small group
ministry in this church is to provide a place to share our faith
and our “appearances” so that we might be strengthened by it.
As we continue our walk to Emmaus, as an
individual, but also as a church, we must come out of our tombs.
We must look for Jesus in each other and in ourselves,
remembering that the appearance of God is present in all of
life, in both our suffering and joy. We must offer the best to
each other that sets aside despair and separation and allows God
to light up our path including all of our family. We must not be
blinded by seeing only our own way, but to look for the
unexpected presence of Christ in the wisdom of our community
together, rather than in a few individuals. It is in this way
that the redeeming love of Christ will lead the way, for you,
for me and for our church in the weeks ahead.
AMEN |
