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One of the great spiritual masters of the 20th century, Basil Pennington, tells the story of a Buddhist retreat he attended. "On the fifth night of the retreat I had a most moving experience. I went in to see the master. As he smiled from ear to ear and rocked gleefully back and forth, he said: 'I like Christianity. But I would not like Christianity without the resurrection.' Then he added: 'Show me your resurrection. I want to see your resurrection.' In his simplicity and clarity, the master had gone straight to the heart of things. With his directness he was saying what everyone else implicitly says to us Christians: You are a Christian. You are risen with Christ. Show me, and I will believe." In our day and time it is possible to be surrounded by Easter eggs, Easter baskets, Easter bunnies, Easter dresses, Easter everything......and not give one thought to resurrection. And yet the resurrection of Christ is the defining moment of Christianity. Is it the defining moment of our lives? We are mistaken if we think that Christianity is a set of beliefs and doctrines about Jesus. Plain and simple, Christianity is about the resurrection of Christ that keeps on happening in a very personal way in your life and mine. It needs to be personal. It needs to happen not just on Easter Sunday, but every day of our lives. Outside a small village in northern Italy there are a series of chapels, in ascending order up the hillside. Each chapel depicts with life-size terra-cotta figures one of the scenes of Jesus' passion. Jesus before Pilate. Jesus shouldering the cross. And so on up the hill. Near the top is the chapel depicting the crucifixion. To this point the path linking the chapels is well worn. Many pilgrims have come to see their Lord's suffering and death. A visitor to those chapels noticed one day that the path did not end at the chapel of the crucifixion, but rather continued up the hillside to the summit. Almost overgrown with grass and weeds, it was clear that there had not been a great deal of traffic on the path. On top of the hill was yet another chapel, the chapel depicting the resurrection. Those who had built the chapels had not forgotten that Jesus rose from the tomb. But the pilgrims who came, paid homage to the Christ of the crucifixion, and then went back down the hill. They never made it to the resurrection. You and I are on a journey. Maybe life is going just fine until one day we are stopped in our tracks by tragedy. Death overwhelms us and we cannot go on. Suffering invades our bodies and minds and the journey cannot continue. The good news of the gospel is that there is a path out of the tomb into the light! There is hope beyond the darkness of our Good Friday depression! There is resurrection! But we need to decide if we are going to have the faith to walk in the new life of Christ=s resurrection. We need a resurrection for our lives. Why do people go to church? What is the #1 reason visitors to church return and eventually become members? Why do people who visit a church go back, get involved, and say, "We want to become a part of this faith community?" Is it because the church has a nice building with modern conveniences? Is it because the church has a great children and youth program? Is it because the pastor is a cool person who preaches a good sermon? These are important factors but the answer to all of these questions is NO. A survey of 26 mainline congregations in the U.S. revealed that the #1 reason is..."the congregation acts like it really believes Jesus is alive. They really believe Jesus is risen through a 'collective energy' that pervades everything that is done." Do you really believe that Jesus is alive? And does this new life bubble up and spill out in everything you do? Our church is not perfect but we are a healthy church. The reason we are healthy is because Christ’s resurrection is real for us. We have a group of Stephen Ministers who walk alongside others who need support. Why do they do it? Resurrection is the reason. We have a ministry of caring for our college students. Why do we do it? Resurrection is the reason. Our mission of welcoming others is serious work here. Why do we keep putting so much energy into the changes necessary to welcome others? Resurrection is the reason. We have a building committee who, a year ago last week, held a ground-breaking ceremony. Why did they work so hard to create our new All Saints Wing? Resurrection is the reason! We really believe and try to live out the resurrection of Jesus. And the good news is that there is always room for more! If you are new, you can be a part of the resurrection party happening here at St. John United Methodist Church! And it is a party. This church doesn’t have time to dwell on the remnants of death. It’s far too much fun to live in the light of resurrection! It’s far too much fun to see what new thing God is going to do with us. It’s far too much fun to spend our energies on forgiveness and love rather than resentments and jealousy. Resurrection is the reason! Is the resurrection of Jesus the reason for the joy and power and love in your life? Do you spend time and energy protecting the dead parts of your life…keeping them in the darkness of the tomb? Or are you letting go of fear and allowing God to bring them into the light where healing happens and others can see your resurrection? Bill Adams tells the story of time when he desperately needed to see the power of resurrection in his life. AWhen my son was two years old........ twenty years ago now...... he was fascinated with trains......... and at the time we rented a small house by the Amtrack railroad tracks that connected the commuter trains between San Francisco and San Jose. Right across the street from our home was the Mountain View train stop for that train. And frequently I would take my two year old son over to the station and we would sit there and wait for the commuter trains that came by every 20 minutes. It was a particular joy for him.... when the train didn't stop at the station, but would whiz by at high speed. His little face would light up when the front of the train would kick up wind..... and the train whistle was almost deafening. I remember one day while we were waiting for the next train...... being called home because there was an important telephone call. It turned out to be a call from my parents who had some bad news. My father had been diagnosed as having a rare form of cancer that was known to be terminal. I was 24 years old at the time...... and I was in shock. This was the first really big tomb that I was ever asked to enter. Before this the crosses I had born were small and easily manageable. In my shock and dismay I didn't know what to do or where to go. I knew that I didn't feel much like talking....... and so.... almost unconsciously.... I walked back across the street to the little Mountain View train station....... this time by myself. And I waited for the next train. In tears I waited....... and then.... I heard the whistle blowing. To this day, I wonder if that train really had any passengers or if it was sent just for me. The engine seemed bigger than all the others before and I'm sure it was going much faster. "I hope it doesn't stop at this station," I thought. ANo.... It's going much to fast. It's not going to stop. And without knowing why I walked right over to the tracks and I stood there inches from the edge. The train grew closer picking up even more speed. And then it happened. It passed by me with such a roar it seemed that I could reach out and touch it. And the wind it pushed against me with such a rush it almost knocked me over. This may sound strange but I was comforted by that event. I wouldn't have said this at the time, but looking back I realize what drew me back to the train station. I needed an Easter experience, one that would re-kindle my Easter dream. I needed to know that there was a power out there that exceeded my fragile existence, a power so great that it might even be called divine! On that day God turned a train into a sacrament, a sign of his resurrecting love. Oh, the wounds were still in my hands and feet...... my side was still pierced......but I was transformed. The tomb was still looming, but it had been emptied, not once and for all mind you. I visited that train station many more times after that and when we buried my dad a year later, I knew that really his grave was empty, because God has the last word. I knew that his spirit was still whole. I don't need the train any more. Easter is now the reminder that the power of the love of Jesus Christ my savior makes my risky and fragile life worth living. I now know that there isn't a rock in existence that is so big that God can't move it. The Easter Dream makes it possible for this wounded bird to soar into the sky. Do you hear the whistle blowing? Can you feel the rush of wind this Easter? The good news of Easter is that you can. You can hear God speaking to you about the disappointment, the sadness, the anger buried in a dark tomb within your heart this Easter day. It is a call to come forth into the light. It is a call to new life that can begin today. It is a call to experience the joy of resurrection. May your family, your friends, your coworkers see the power of YOUR resurrection! Alleluia Christ is Risen! |
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04.11.04 - Show Me Your Resurrection! (Luke 24:1-12)
