EASTER BLESSINGS

Posted by Christ the King Lutheran Church on April 4, 2010 under Uncategorized | Comments are off for this article

An old Sunday School song by Avery and Marsh rejoices that we have ‘”good news, good news; good news, good news!” That’s the theme of our Easter celebrations, the good news that Jesus is risen from the tomb and our future is secure. But the good news is not just for tomorrow, it is for today.

This morning we heard the Easter story from John 20:1-18. Here’s an excerpt from my sermon, suggesting some of the things we can learn from Mary’s experience at the tomb.

Consider this: on a good day, we’re rarely looking for good news. We’re enjoying what’s happening, even taking the good things for granted. And we expect things to continue in the same pleasant way. On a bad day, we start looking for good news. We ask questions; we want answers; we want someone to make it all go away. Our first thought is not usually to turn to the passion of Jesus Christ, but within the confusion of that first Easter morning, we can find a pattern to help us when the world crashes in.

First, Mary doesn’t hide from her grief. She leans into it. She goes to a place where the tears are sure to flow, as close as she can get to her Lord.

Second, when she gets shocking news, she shares it with other people that she trusts. They don’t have answers, but they are willing to look into the situation with her.

Third, she lingers. Even though the trusted others aren’t able to stay, she does. She has to. She takes the risk of looking into the tomb.

Fourth, she’s willing to ask for help, even from a stranger, because her need is so great.

Fifth, she is willing to let go of all her old ways of thinking to see the resurrected Jesus. She discovers that God really can do new things.

It is not easy for us to lean into our pain, to linger there listening for Jesus. It is not easy for us to ask friends to accompany us, or strangers to help us. It is not easy to turn to the “old, old story of Jesus and his love” when we want new answers and quick fixes. But in those actions we will begin to see the new life that Jesus promised.

May you begin to see Jesus’ presence bringing you new life.

Pastor Susan