Donna Joy

Jeremiah 31:1-6; Mark 16:1-8

Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!

The resurrection story, chosen for today, is from Mark, which offers the most incomplete telling of this story. We don’t understand exactly why it ends where it does, but for whatever reason, it’s brevity, I think, draws us into the story in an important way. This telling of that first Easter morning has the two Marys and Salome, once the Sabbath was over, setting out to embalm Jesus’ body with fragrant spices. They’re concerned about a stone blocking the tomb (4-6’; 2000-4000 pounds); but astonishingly they discover that the stone has been moved and the body has disappeared. (It seems that with God’s help, those things blocking us from whatever we believe we’re called to do can be removed.) Angels tell them not to be afraid, because Jesus has risen from death! In other words, “It’s all good!”

At this point they are instructed to share this news with the other disciples, especially Peter. It’s interesting, that despite Peter’s cowardice, Jesus seems to be embracing and including him in the continuation of Jesus’ story going forward. I am reminded of Philip Yancey’s definition of grace: Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more; and there is nothing we can do to make God love us less. Good news for Peter; Good new for each of us.

These astonished women are told that Jesus is going ahead, to meet up with them in Galilee, the place where the disciples were first called to follow him. The women leave the tomb in a state of shock; too frightened at that point to do what they have been instructed to do; that is, tell the others what has happened. And this is where Mark’s account of the resurrection ends. Full stop.

This seemingly truncated version of the resurrection story was chosen for today so that, not just today but throughout the Easter season, we may be drawn to fill in the blanks. The world in which those women experienced the death and resurrection of Jesus was filled with death and despair: political and religious unrest; a culture where the rich got richer and the poor got poorer; rampant, untreated illness that marginalized and polarized people and communities, one from another. The world, with this resurrection event is not changed, but those women become changed and transformed. And because there is no tidy conclusion, I think this telling catapults us into some probing questions of our own. It leads us into a time of pondering: How might we become changed by this experience? I think it encourages us to write ourselves into what is to follow, write ourselves into the story. We might ask:

Where is Jesus now going ahead of us?

Here, we are told, he is going ahead to what many seem to consider an inferior place - Galilee: a place that is culturally despised, linguistically inadequate, religiously inferior; the place where the average person would not choose to go. As we live into this new and unfamiliar territory known as a global pandemic – a place where the average person would not choose to go - this story assures us that Jesus has risen and gone ahead of us to greet us in this Galilean type place; to be with us, embrace, love, and comfort us as we adjust and figure out new ways to thrive.

Our Jeremiah reading this morning, reflecting on the God of Israel, says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” We believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of this promise. We are not alone; the risen Christ is with us each and every step of the way.

What is Jesus calling on us to do, to live as a resurrection people in the midst of this current reality?

Jesus relies on us to continue the ongoing resurrection story. As we discover the risen Christ in this pandemic place, we are called to share the gift of His presence – his rising to new life - with others. Through each of us, the resurrection story has the potential to offer hope and comfort in the midst of the fear, loneliness, and despair that many are feeling during this time of self isolation and physical distancing. Because here’s the thing… We, the church, are called to be a light in the midst of the darkest of time.

So, in concrete terms how might we live the resurrection, offering love, hope, comfort and support to others? We can pray. Pray for all those essential workers who are selflessly stepping up: health care workers; grocery/food providers; railway workers and long distance drivers, making it possible for essential items to be made available. (Also: You may have heard that New Zealand Prime Minister has officially identified the tooth fairy and Easter Bunny as essential workers; pray for them too…)

Pray also for those whose lives have been personally touched by this virus; those whose jobs/livelihoods have been lost/sacrificed. Pray for those who are feeling especially lonely and cut off. I know many worshipping here today are in need of such prayers.

We can reach out to people in concrete ways: I’ve heard so many stories over the past month, where people at home with more time than usual, are making phone calls, sending emails, and for those without the necessary technology, writing and sending personal notes through Canada Post. If you know someone who is without essential items and you happen to have extra, you can deliver them; drop them off at their door or the entranceway into their apartment. In addition to all this, you can go to Help Next Door Manitoba which is a site that helps guide you to community needs associated with this current situation and concrete ways you can respond.

St. Peter’s received a beautiful message from the executive director of SMMCM, commending this parish for their remarkable ongoing support, especially over the past month. I pray that this will continue. To share the love of Christ with others, is to live resurrection lives.

On that first Easter Day, the world was not miraculously changed. But those women were changed, and through them, hope, courage, comfort became contagious as it spread out to the rest of Jesus’ followers, and beyond. Today, within the context of a global pandemic, I pray that we may discover the gift of this risen Presence – and that through us others may discover love, comfort, and hope.

Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen, indeed. Alleluia!