John 20:1-18 "Alleluia!" Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008

Let us pray. Dear Lord, we come to you with hearts overflowing gratitude for everything you have provided us. We are eternally thankful for the precious gift of your love in Jesus Christ. We rejoice that you look upon us, Oh Lord, and find us worthy. Just as the stone before the tomb was rolled away by your command, we ask that you move all obstacles from our path so that we may serve you in all that we do. May we truly live this Easter, giving thanks and praises for your eternal and abiding love. May our every thought, word and deed be an Alleluia! Amen.

It has been a hard week, with much sadness in our church family.

Eujin Choi, a 16-year old neighbor in Franklin Lakes, died after a 5-year struggle with brain cancer.

Lorna Trautwein a former member of this church, died last Sunday, just 3 days before her 83rd birthday.

A 12-year old classmate of Ethan Adams committed suicide Monday.

Jane Brady's mother, Mary Tanaskovic, 94, of Woodcliff Lake, died Tuesday.

Lily Rutler's voice teacher, Diane Durand, died Wednesday, after a brief but intense battle with cancer.

For several of you, this is your first Easter without a loved one. I'm especially missing Mark Stratton, our beloved treasurer.

All who are grieving might be asking the same question: Where will I find the voice to feel, say or sing "Alleluia!"? The answer is, you've come to the right place! In the church we are not afraid to face death and loss, and in the midst of it all we find faith.

Although the gospels differ in the account of who was there, and what it was that happened, they all agree about where the first Easter took place. It was in a cemetery, in the place of memory and death, that the Good News of resurrection became real, and grief became Alleluia!

Pope Benedict XVI said yesterday, "These holy days reawaken a great hope in us… Christ was crucified, yet he rose again and conquered the world. Love is stronger than hate, it has triumphed and we should affiliate ourselves with this victory of love. We should therefore start again from Christ and work together with him for a world founded on peace, justice and love."

PCFL, I have said it many times, Easter is not about the resuscitation of a dead body, but the Resurrection to Life. It would be sad to come back, just to die again. No, Easter is about life. On Easter we celebrate the life to which Jesus has awakened us: life in the New Age, life in abundance, life with a capital L. In that Life, there is no opposite. No death.

Craig Barnes, former Pastor of the National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC, writes of the surprise in Easter (www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2248), “Easter is the last thing we are expecting. And that is why it terrifies us. This day is not about bunnies, springtime and girls in cute new dresses. It’s about more hope than we can handle. What we long for, what we miss and beg God to give back, is dead. Easter doesn’t change that. So we cannot cling to the hope that Jesus will take us back to the way it was. The way out of the darkness is only by moving ahead. And the only person who can lead the way is the Savior. But not the old Rabboni we once knew, which is only one more thing that has to be left behind. Until we discover a new vision of the Savior, a savior who has risen out of our disappointments, we’ll never understand Easter…. After the resurrection, things do not return to normal. That’s the good news. It is basic to everything else the New Testament proclaims. After seeing a risen Jesus, we see that there is no normal. Now we can’t even count on the darkness. All we know for sure is that a risen Savior is on the loose. And he knows our names.”

Jesus asked Mary Magdalene, “Who are you looking for?” τινα ζητεις (Verse 15) This verse, so close to the end of the Gospel, echoes a theme that has been there from the beginning. It's the theme of discipleship. In chapter 1 of John, two disciples of John the Baptist start to follow Jesus, and when Jesus turns and sees them, he asks the same question he asked Mary Magdalene, "What do you want?" τι ζητειτε.  John tells us, they answered with the same word as Mary: "Rabbi, where do you live?" The Hebrew word "Rabbi" means "Teacher."Jesus replied, "Come and see!" Isn't that why we're here today? We've come to see. We have this beautiful day, these good friends, and the love and support of this church to help us find what we are seeking.

I would suggest that, just like the three people in John's account of Easter morning there are three types of people here today: the hurried disciples, the chosen disciples; and the beloved disciples. The hurried disciples are like Peter, who ran to the tomb, went in, saw but did not understand, and then went home, saying nothing to anyone. The chosen disciples, are those like Mary Magdalene who directly experience the presence of the Risen Christ and are sent to share the Alleluia! with others. And the beloved disciples are the steady saints of faith who hurry to church Easter morning and every Sunday, who receive the Good News even if they don't see, and sing the Alleluia! anyway. 

As hurried, beloved and/or chosen disciples, let us celebrate the Good News of this day. If you're not already a member, I invite you to consider joining this community today. And no matter where you are on life's journey, I invite you to join me in this affirmation. Please repeat after me: Christ is. Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia! Amen.