The First Easter

 The First Easter

The first Easter was really far different than what we might imagine.

Some disciples were hiding behind locked doors for fear of their lives.

Mary Magdalene was looking for Jesus but not sure where to find Him.

Peter and John were running to the tomb trying to believe in their unbelief.

Herod was probably trying to recover from too much drinking the night before.

While Pilate was still washing his hands hoping to come clean.

And Caiphas and Annas thought they now had everything under control.

The truth is they were all clueless.

The Roman empire was going to fall.

Judaism was about to be torn in two.

And Christianity was going to rise from the ashes.

All because of one man whom nails could not hold and whom a tomb could not enclose.

Like Mary Magdalene where can we find the Risen Christ?

Like Peter and John how can we believe in the resurrection?

The first place that people look to experience the resurrection is in creation.

The rising sun, the coming of spring with its flowers blooming and birds singing.

But that experience of the resurrection is always passing away as autumn comes and turns into winter.

There must be a deeper and more lasting experience of the resurrection.

The second place we look then to experience the resurrection is in human love.

The love of family and friends.

The love we share with one another transforms us and transcends this world.

But friends move on and loved ones die, so this experience of the resurrection is limited as well.

There must be a deeper and more lasting experience of the resurrection.

This comes from only from the risen Christ dwelling within us.

Everyday; giving us life.

But then why do so few people experience the resurrection?

Because you cannot have your cake and eat it too.

We cannot love money, continue committing our favorite sins and giving God our leftovers and expect to experience the resurrection.

Those who live for themselves and for the things of this world will never experience the resurrection.

While those who die to themselves and the things of this world will!

That is what lent was supposed to be all about.

The degree to which we die to ourselves is the degree to which we will experience the resurrection.

Christ is not just a teacher who tells us to do good and avoid evil.

He is not just a healer of the sick.

He alone is the resurrection and the life.

He is eternal life for the dead and the dying.

He is new life for those who have found their old life meaningless and filled with despair.

For some, Easter is merely the beginning of spring.

For others, it is a yearly ritual of new clothes, going to Church and then out to brunch or dinner.

But for some like Mary Magdalene it is a time to search for the risen Lord for the tomb is empty.

For some like Peter and John it is time to believe for the tomb is empty.

It is a time to die to live for Christ.

For the world and its passing pleasures are as empty as the empty tomb.

God Bless