Christ Reveals Ultimate Meaning

Fr. Tim preached this sermon at Bok Tower’s Sunrise Easter Service. His adapted version for Good Shepherd’s Easter service may be watched here.

This isn’t how it was supposed to be.  You, or at least 2,000 or so people like you, were supposed to be here.  The Lake Wales Chorale was supposed to be over there, at the base of the tower. The Ridge Brass were supposed to be with them. I was supposed to be on that balcony, about 50 feet up there. A bagpiper was supposed to come out of the pre-dawn light playing Amazing Grace. The only person who is where he expected to be is the Carillonneur, Geert D’Hollander – but he has adjusted his program because everything had to change.

The one thing that didn’t change is this spot and the time. This service has been timed for 94 years with the sunrise. And that is where we shall begin. Science teaches us that the sun does not rise. The earth rotates continuously and, depending on where we are standing, it only appears to rise. That is absolutely true, undoubtedly true.

And yet, no one ever watched it and thought, “Oh! My side of the world is turning toward the sun!” No, we all think, “What a beautiful sunrise!” Do you see the difference? The physical fact of the earth’s rotation in relation to the sun is true, but it takes on meaning when we see it.

What is true for the sunrise is true for everything. If you were standing on a beach watching the sunrise, the sight and the sound of the waves take on meaning, as do the boats in the distance and the sand between your toes, and your shorts, and your shirt. Literally everything we encounter, everything we learn and everything we experience takes on meaning quite apart from its mere existence.

That is also true for relationships. That is how we are wired.

Mary Magdalene had found great meaning in her relationship with Jesus. Luke’s Gospel tells us she had suffered from seven demons. It doesn’t say what that means, but it cannot have been good. Jesus delivered her.  He gave her new life, which changed her forever. It removed her suffering and gave her meaning and purpose. She followed him through the various cities and villages, all the way to Jerusalem and to the foot of the cross. We can only imagine her sorrow and grief as she watched the man who had changed her life suffer and die. He meant everything to her.  Her life had meaning because of him.

By all accounts, she helped Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus anoint His body with spices and watched them roll the stone in place. Jesus was now a memory and she would have to find meaning in his death and a way forward for her life without him.

But then, early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb. It’s not how it was supposed to be! She’s supposed to sit outside a sealed tomb to quietly grieve the death of the man who had not only changed her life but given her life. The stone had been moved and it was empty.

She ran to get Peter and John. After they came and saw and left she is left alone in grief and confusion. Where can he be?

It’s no wonder she doesn’t recognize Jesus at first. She saw him dead. In their time they saw a lot of death and they knew as well as we do that dead people did not get up. Of course she assumes he’s just some guy. But then he calls her name. And she realizes that He got up. He got up! He got up!!! Now she must tell the disciples those amazing, astounding words, “I have seen The Lord!”

Can you see what is happening? Jesus had changed the way Mary Magdalene saw everything, the way she understood herself and her value as a human being.  Her entire world was destroyed when she watched Jesus die on the cross. Then she sees him alive?! Talk about whiplash! Now she will spend the rest of her life processing what Jesus’ resurrection will mean for her and the whole world.

What happened to her happened to the rest of the disciples and would change the world. And it can happen to you.

If Jesus hadn’t gotten up, what would have happened? His disciples would have melted away and his words would have dissipated. They’d be gone. But what Jesus said 2,000 years ago has changed the world.  We aren’t there yet, but Jesus has shaped the world’s value of life in general and of each individual. Even so, we know that it’s still not yet how it’s supposed to be.

And we know that the longer this COVID-19 pandemic drags on, it’s really not how it’s supposed to be. We’re all hunkered down, sheltering in place, thinking about what we can’t do, what we can do. People and families all around the world are suffering from the virus. More are suffering from the economic effects. Tens of millions are losing their jobs and paychecks in this country and around the world. And we know that the economic slowdown will hit hardest on “the least of these” – those in places close to home and around the world we might forget or never even know.

The whole world is not as it’s supposed to be!

So what are we going to do about it? We’ll start with a word of life. 

Evil does not win! Sin does not win! Unemployment does not win! COVID-19 does not win! Death does not win! Love wins! God wins! Jesus wins!

And we won’t melt away or disperse. Because just as the sun rises giving life and meaning to this world, the Morning Star has arisen in our hearts. Jesus brings meaning and purpose to our lives and we will not stop until the whole world knows the truth of his love, and not just because we said it, because we did it.

Alleluia Christ is risen!

Alleluia Christ is risen!

Alleluia Christ is risen!

AMEN