Encounter with the Risen Lord
Tonight we come to the third and last of a three chapter-service experience in which we have the opportunity to understand why God intends us to live in community, why the crucifixion is Good Friday, and the grounding of all Christian hope – the resurrection. Maundy Thursday is named for the new commandment to love one another as Jesus loved – as servants – as friends – because the Word of God was made flesh to show us the love of God. The washing of feet, sharing of a common loaf of bread and a common cup help us practice the love of God. The incarnation is the climax of creation – by it the Word that spoke all things into being – joined humanity as a human child, Jesus. The Good Friday meditation is the incomprehensible depth and breadth of love for which Jesus stretched out his arms on the hard wood of the cross to redeem all within his saving embrace. God so loved that through Jesus the self-gift of pure grace accomplished forgiveness of sins and reconciled us all with God. Tonight we entered in darkness, just as we departed last night – waiting- remembering the history of salvation – and the light has come. The light of Christ has shattered the darkness. The light of resurrection – this paschal candle – reminds us that with God all things are possible – death is overcome with new life – sin is overcome by grace – and God’s love is at the root of it all.
Scripture takes us through the experience of some women, Mary Magdaline, Mary the mother of Jesus, Joanna as they arrive at the tomb before sunrise and find the stone rolled away. The women went in and found two men dressed in dazzling light who said, “why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen. Remember how he told you while still in Galilee that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified and on the third day rise again.” They did remember and they told others about what they had seen and heard.
Christian faith is above all else a resurrection faith. We can’t explain how resurrection happened – that is between God the Father and God the Son. What we can know is that the tomb was empty, Jesus was alive. The risen one had not stayed there, sitting on the stone smiling waiting for them to come and see. The risen one had people to see and things to do. The living one’s business was among the living, to whom he appeared not once but many times. Each time the risen Christ appeared to former friends, they became stronger, wiser, kinder, more daring. Every time Jesus the risen Christ appeared to them, they became more like him.
It is not the science of resurrection that converts our spirits – it is the encounter with the living Lord. As with Mary Magdalene, Easter began when the messenger reminded her what Jesus had taught, and with other disciples, it was the encounter. If you read on past the verses in Luke 24 appointed for tonight, you will find that some of the disciples were walking along a path outside the city of Jerusalem, very discouraged, sad, and confused about events – especially the death of their friend, Jesus, who they hoped and believed was the messiah. The scriptures they knew expected that the Messiah would set things aright – overturn the oppressive Roman regime, liberate the poor and oppressed, establish a heavenly kingdom here on earth (no doubt with themselves having leadership roles). As they walked along, a stranger joined them, who asked what they were talking about. They were surprised that anyone could not know about the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. The stranger began to explain the scriptures they supposedly knew in a new way. As they neared the village of Emmaus to which they were going, it was near sundown and they asked the stranger to stay with them. The conversation continued and in the breaking of the bread, their eyes were opened and they recognized that the stranger was Jesus – alive – here.
We too need to practice resurrection: learning to live in the present, looking toward the future, living in hope for the new things God is doing. Resurrection means the creation is not over and done with. We can expect that God is still making abundant grace and life-affirming promises of presence. Practicing resurrection means living in openness, vulnerable, inviting, and ready to encounter God in new faces, new places, and new ways. .
The resurrection and all those post-resurrection appearances say we are not alone. There is no telling where he will show up next. I’ll suggest several likely possibilities where I believe the risen Lord is present:
By the bedside of every dying person; in every soup kitchen and homeless shelter; with every family that is losing a family member or friend; in every place where women and children are abused, hungry, or victims of violence; in every person everywhere – that is where the risen one appears. He is present. He is alive. He is risen.
Tonight- here- in the acceptance of Tyler into the body of the living Christ.
Tonight as faithful disciples gather to share the sacrament of bread and wine and be mysteriously transformed into living members of the body of Christ.
Tomorrow in every village and city where people proclaim, He is risen.
www.stpauls-poplarsprings.ang-md.org