A New Way
On that Easter / Resurrection morning, behold it is a mystery. Life has overcome even the grave!
- In Matthew 28, we read of angels sitting patiently on rocks with surprises. As Ken likes to remind us that God’s second name is, SURPRISE!
- Earthquakes shake the foundations of existence
- Some soldiers do their best to cover their tracks, not wanting to embarrass the power of Rome.
- There are the women, who despite every sign to run/hide/flee - remain with Jesus from his cross to his tomb, only later to find that their work is not finished.
- There is fear mixed with great joy – an ever-present expression of faith.
- There are stones broken open, tombs left empty, and a call to meet to go out – first to Galilee – and then to all people.
As I read the scriptures, there is something expansive about it. Today marks the beginning of the first moment grows and expands. If it were to be painted, I imagine a light, somehow in motion, moving across a canvas. Fr. Richard Rohr’s professor said that if you could somehow put a video camera in front of the tomb on Friday – what you would see is light expanding in every direction. Something happened that first day that was a new act of creation. Let there be LIGHT again!
I find it worth mentioning – because at times I believe we take for granted – what did not happen that day.
There was not an escape from the world – the charge after Matthew is to go into the world!
There is no personal revenge – a sort of John meets Jesus Wick 7 that wipes the floor with the Roman Empire – Jesus says that one cannot enter the kingdom by force.
There is no great battle that would ensue though Eastern Orthodox Christians believe that while in the grave, Jesus did battle in hell, and opened the gates of heaven. It is called the Harrowing of Hell, but that is for another sermon.
There is only an invitation into a new way – Hallelujah!
I like saying those things because Christianity can often be twisted into a very limited tribalistic way. We need to be reminded that bloodshed and revenge were never the by-products of an Easter morning. To some degree, that’s why I’m hesitant to talk about the expansionist nature of Easter – and the work that was happening in Christ. “Go and make disciples” sounds a little colonialist to me, a stain that we’re either trying to make right or wipe our school libraries clean of. As Americans, we love tales of growth and expansion though I’m pretty sure that’s what not God was thinking.
Does anyone know the motto of Facebook throughout the early 2000s? Move fast and break things. The question was not of design or responsibility or ethics in publication – it was bigger is better, faster is better.
Uber – unlike typical businesses that understandably focus on profitability, Uber dedicated itself to “market share.” In other words, if we can control the market, we control prices.
Churches are not all that different. I worked with a church whose mindset was - growth. If we are not raising funds to build something new, we are not – growth was the emblem of blessing.
But is growth for growth's sake what Jesus invited us into? Grow, go, move fast and break things, control the market share, dominate the airwaves, now, big, consume, territory, tribe – whatever the case the ends justify the means? Get it done, we’re talking salvation here!
I want to suggest that God’s invitation in Christ, invited into a new creation is not so much an image of expanding territory or tribal lines or doctrines or market share or more – but is an invitation to a new way of connection – a new life with and connected to and in solidarity with all creation. The image of Easter that I want to share with you today is one of connection and solidarity. Halleluja!
I had the privilege of traveling to Romania over 17 years ago, a bit before our oldest son, Owen was born. I was in graduate school at Wake Forest. Some of you may the name, Bill Leonard. He was the professor in charge of our trip. One excursion we took that was quite meaningful was a trip to an Orthodox monastery. Romania has roots in the Orthodox branch of Christianity, a branch that is divided from Roman Catholicism over what would seem insignificant theological differences today. For those interested, it was over what is known as the filioque clause – that is whether the Spirit proceeds from God and Jesus Christ or just God.
Orthodox Christianity has a deep tradition of iconography. It is a sacred art of portraying religious figures that enable the viewer to both see the painting and see past the painting. I was quite taken with the icons and as we toured the monastery, I could not help but linger with the icons. At this monastery, the monks taught iconography to the novices, those becoming monks. I was curious as to what the end - and how a teacher would measure one icon above another. So, I asked. The Priest, who spoke English, stopped in front of the icon that was on the outside wall of their dining room. He directed our attention and said, take this one for instance. What do you see – which is a wonderful question. It was Jesus seated at a meal. It was the eschataglocial banquet – the banquet feast at which Jesus will host humanity. As a side note – it’s strange that we’ve much preferred an image of a courtroom with our lists of sins to the actual image that Jesus used which was a feast for all who would join!
In any case, in this icon, Jesus faced the viewer and the plane of the table was flat, without regard for depth of field or horizon. The Priest directed our attention to the table, on that flat surface were utensils, pitchers, plates, and food. What do you notice about the knives, he asked. As soon as asked, we realized that every knife on the table was pointing at Jesus, sharp blades, serrated blades, all pointing toward different parts of his body.
The Priest said, this student failed, you see. We do not point knives at Jesus, we remove knives from Jesus. He is worthy of our protection, just as all people are.
An icon and any image of Jesus, he said, must direct us toward affection and solidarity, just as Christ does. Hallelujah.
The New Testament uses many different metaphors to describe what was happening in Christ that first Easter morning – it would be inaccurate to say that God’s work in Christ means one thing. The New Testament calls it:
- The first fruits of new life
- New creation/Re-creation
- God’s work of reconciliation
- The defeat of sin
- The defeat of death
- The affirmation of all that Jesus said, did, and healed. Hallelujah!
In Romans 6, however, Paul uses the ritual of baptism, to proclaim a mystery of Easter – and one that I believe is often overlooked. That is this - as we join with Christ in baptism - and here is the mystery - we participate in his suffering just as Christ participates in our sufferings. Likewise, as we participate in his suffering, we also participate inhis resurrection just as he participates in ours. To be in Christ, a new creation, is to be in solidarity in the very pattern of life – birth, life, death, decay, and resurrection.
In every sense then, Christ is the new Adam, a forerunner for all humanity through whom we participate with a burgeoning, expanding, recreated, and connected humanity.
So today, let us proclaim together that
The tomb of isolation and bitterness is no more, Hallelujah.
The tomb of despair has been broken open, Hallelujah!
The tomb of individualism just makes no sense, Hallelujah!
The stone of sin that weighs upon us filling us with shame has been removed, Hallelujah!
The light is expanding from the tomb and is inviting us to reconnect with nature, kin, stranger, leaf, flower, cats, needy, and our truest selves. It is within the connection that we find ourselves re-born in the image of Christ – the first fruit of new creation – the re-membering of Christ’s body.
If you are here today and have considered baptism as a sign of your service to this world, and your connection to Christ and solidarity with all that is – we invite you to make a commitment. You can come up to the front during the Hymn of Response, Christ is Risen! You can also talk with me or Pastor Ken anytime you’d like. We’d love to see if this baptismal still holds water.
So today, sometime today – find a space, a moment where you can be connected to life, to nature, to a son/daughter/spouse/pet. Find a moment to expand your world to include someone, something, or some thought that you would not normally. Find at that moment, the gift of Easter, the call to solidarity. Feel it today. And finally, celebrate that Christ has given us the expansive ministry of reconciliation which is a fancy term for re-connection to all things.
Life has overcome even the grave! Hallelujah!