While it was still dark,
on the first day of the week,
she went to the tomb.
It had not dawned on her yet
what had changed -
What happened on Easter morning is hard to explain - but it changed absolutely everything.
What we do with what happened - how we change our minds and let our lives be turned around in a new direction - more profoundly tells the meaning of the resurrection than any formula.
From that day forward - from that day forward to this one - life is changed. Not ended.
As we say of the hour of death life is changed, not ended: meaning that death has not the final word, the finality, any more - for Christ is raised, from the dead, and in him, in his raising, all are raised.
With him we are living into a new future - the new possibility that life can have meaning beyond itself, beyond the grave, beyond our circumstances, beyond our individuality; we have life in Christ and in Christ's life we find life.
Nobody fully knows what this means. We only know of it because of the witness to the resurrection by the women and the men who beheld the empty tomb, the risen Lord, and the Ascension - and the coming of the holy Spirit down upon them.
We too wish for the descent of the dove, the power of the Spirit; knowing full well it has meaning beyond our dreams, holds out hope beyond our accomplishment, and fills us with love beyond our capacity for self doubt or remorse, anguish or uncertainty.
Claims on life as we lived it once before are gone; as we live into the resurrection we let go of life - and truly grasp it at last.
In the light of the cross, the alternative - to life as we have known it - is anything but hopelessness. On the contrary! There is every scriptural indication that we are called to change who we are into the kingdom of God.
(Ann Weems, Kneeling in Jerusalem)
Because Christ is risen, we live in a world made new.
Because he is risen, we can live in hope.
Because he is risen, life is not a futile struggle; our efforts have meaning.
Because he is risen, we know that God is with us; he listens to us.
Because he is risen, there can be peace. Those who were enemies can live peaceably together.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
(Isaiah 65:25a)
They will not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
(Isaiah 11:9)
Because Christ is risen, we know that God reigns.
That is what Jesus came to bring us: the peaceable reign of God. SHALOM: peace, joy, wholeness, beauty. Satisfaction in the completion of the task, the fruits of his labors, the work he has done, come together in this moment: the moment of the kingdom of peace, the reign of God in your land, in your voice, in your heart, in your life, in you:
In every movement of the heart, every struggle of the mind, for integrity, justice, creativity, life, love, and beauty, the day has dawned: the new day, the day of the Lord.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)
Praise the Lord, who has broken the power of death. Alleluia!
Praise the Lord, who has defeated the depths of darkness. Alleluia!
Praise the Lord, who has triumphed over evil. Alleluia!
Praise the Lord, who has won for us life eternal. Alleluia!
In love we give ourselves to you, holy Lord. Amen!
In joy we worship you,
In hope we find you, O Christ our God.
May we rejoice in your victory, proclaim the good news, and reflect your glory. Amen!
May you know in your life the presence of the risen Lord, the peace of Christ the eternal Word, and the power of his resurrection. May the blessing of God almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, rest upon you today and remain with you always.
(adapted from David Adam, Glimpses of Glory)
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