The Day of Resurrection 2014

Easter Day 2014 I read a story this past week that caught my attention. It is shared by Rob Bell in his book What We Talk About When We Talk About God: “At TED 2012 a brilliant, passionate lawyer named Bryan Stevenson gave a talk about injustice and racism. He spoke about his work around the country within the prison and court systems and his desire to see all people treated fairly. He told stories about young men he's currently defending in court, arguing compellingly for a more just society, and then he closed with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. (who was quoting the abolitionist Theodore Parker) about how the moral arc of the universe is long and it bends toward justice. The second Stevenson was done, the audience gave him a rousing, extended standing ovation. Then later, they pitched in collectively to give his organization over a million dollars. I point this out because when the audience was asked from the stage two days earlier how many of them considered themselves religious, it appeared that only about 2 or 3 percent of the people raised their hands. And yet a man confronted them with the moral arc of the universe and they intuitively, unanimously, instantly affirmed the truth of his claim. Is history headed somewhere? Seriously? Because when Bryan Stevenson talks about the moral arc of the universe, he's talking about history, history that is headed somewhere, somewhere good. History that has a point to it. I believe that those smart, educated, accomplished, self-described-as-not-very-religious people stood and applauded because deep within every single one of us is the conviction that there is a point to this. That life has purpose. That when we die, the lights are not turned off and the show is not over.” This is what we gather here today to celebrate: the moral arc of the universe that culminates in a justice that we would have never imagined or even asked for. Easter Day shows us, year after year, that the moral arc of the universe culminates in Resurrection. What a wonderful, unexpected surprise! In John’s gospel this morning, we see Mary Magdalene also receiving a surprise. She has discovered the empty tomb; the two men disciples have come to see it, and have gone away, not knowing what to do. And yet, Mary Magdalene lingers until she encounters a man who she thinks is the gardener, but really it is Jesus. That always captures my imagination, how she doesn’t recognize him until he calls her by name. Because we know something about that don’t we? We, who would have never imagined resurrection, who hear the story year after year, we don’t recognize it when it is right in front of us! Another writer writes, “Resurrection is always a mystery, always a miracle, but often we do not recognize resurrection when it comes to us. When all that separates and injures and destroys is overcome by that which unites, heals and creates in the ordinary routine of our daily lives, resurrection has taken place.” (From Birthed from the Womb of God: A lectionary for women compiled by Dorothy Harvey p 28) Today we gather to celebrate that the point of history is resurrection. In and through Jesus’s death and resurrection, God is making all creation new—us, our families, our church, our friends and neighbors, those people we love and those we don’t, the oceans and the deserts, the mountains and the cities….The point of history is resurrection. May we have the grace this day and always to recognize the mystery of resurrection when it stands before us and calls us by name!