Acts 10:34-43. Psalm 118, Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-18
Christ is Risen!
Mary Magdalene was on the way to the tomb of her lord in the dark of the early morning. We can imagine what her state must have been like, going to the cemetery to pay her respects to a person who had changed her life. To grieve a relationship that had ended in sudden and devastating tragedy. Despite what Jesus had talked about in the days before his death. About rebuilding the temple in three days, about dying and rising to new life, Mary wasn’t expecting to find anything that morning but a cold dark tomb. And who could blame her really; who go goes around expecting the unexpected. Mary in her grief and heartache was clinging to a branch that she believed would be her only comfort, at least I can rest in the presence of the body of my Lord.
It was the first day of the week and it began in darkness, in doubt, in fear. It began with clinging to the memories of the past and not wanting to open eyes to the possibilities of that the things that Jesus had talked about might be true.
In my time as a priest I have stood beside families at the graveside as they mourned the loss of a loved one. And as the last prayer is read and the book is closed, they have looked at me as if to say is that all there is? Isn’t there anything more we can do? I have talked with people diagnosed with terminal illness who feel cheated. I’ve talked with addicts who see no hope in their recovery. And I have wanted to say to them, let go of the sorrow, let go of your doubts its only a leap of faith to knowing that God is with you in this, whatever happens. But I have often hesitated because I have been clinging to my own doubt, my own insecurities afraid of giving people anyone false hope.
But, that is why we celebrate Easter. This is our first day. On this day we live once again the experience of the first disciples and though we may go through darkness we celebrate the fact that we are people of the light. We celebrate that the promise that Jesus made to us has come true. That the temple of his body has been rebuilt, that he has been raised from the dead. The resurrection is not something that is easy to understand but I think that there are three things that will help us make the power of the resurrection a reality in our lives.
The first is listening to those who were there. Peter tells us in the first reading that the disciples are sent out as witnesses to the truth of the resurrection. The resurrection was witnessed by some who were given the mandate of telling others so that they to might believe. We are here today because of them.
The second is by being aware of the experience of the risen Christ in our lives. When have we felt that we have gone from the tomb to new life, from darkness into light? When we are aware of those times in our lives we need to take that memory and use it as a source of strength for the difficult times that may lay ahead.
Finally in order to live as people of the light as People of the promise of new life. We must have faith. We must be willing to let go of the things that we cling to in whatever form they take, whether it is self-doubt, guilt, anger, jealousy. Whatever those things that we hang onto that we think we need to keep in this world we need to let go of them if we are going to experience the resurrection.
Mary Magadalene came back to the tomb a second time and this time there was her lord. Let go, he told Mary, let go and go and tell the others what you have seen.
What are you clinging to?
Let go and put your faith in the Risen Christ.
