April 4, 2010
But anyway . . .
- Luke 24:1-12
- Dr. Teri Thomas
Yesterday we had the Easter egg hunt here at the church. We had lots of kids and parents and many of them were neighbors who are not regular members of this congregation.
One child asked, “Mommy, why do we eat jelly beans for Easter?”
“Because it was Christ’s last meal,” Mommy responded.
“Daddy, what is Easter?”
“Well dear, Easter is the day we celebrate Jesus rising from the grave and coming back to Earth as a rabbit that hides colored eggs.”
It is confusing. The pagan fertility rituals , the druid celebration of spring get all mixed up with Hallmark and Cadbury and the Christian celebration of resurrection and it can be very confusing.
What exactly is Easter? Several weeks ago I sent an email out to some of you asking a few questions about Easter. The vast majority of my unscientific sampling believes that Easter is by far the most important part of the Christian faith. An even larger majority of you believe that Easter is the most difficult part of the Christian faith.
If you focus on the bunnies, the eggs, you are OK. Even if you focus on renewal and the rebirth of spring in our hemisphere you are comfortable. But when you get into the resurrection, well- that means there is death, suffering, atonement, a miracle, and that is much more difficult to get out heads around.
What about you? What does Easter mean? What does it mean to you? Is this tale of resurrection sound like an idle tale– empty talk, a silly story, utter nonsense, sheer humbug? If it does, you are in pretty good company. But before you lock in on that, I’d like you to hear some of the story again.
But on the first day of the week
came to tomb
taking spices
stone rolled away
BUT when they went in they did not find the body
perplexed
two men in white
women terrified
BUT why look for living among the dead
he is not here
remember he told you
returning from tomb
told 11 disciples
BUT words seemed idle tale
It is not simple the mind-boggling nature of the story.
It is all those “buts” in there that raise questions and doubts.
This morning we sing great hymns, listen to amazing music, enjoy the flowers and it’s easy to celebrate resurrection.
But what about tomorrow morning, when the alarm clock goes off at 6 a.m. and our spirits sink...where is the resurrection then?
The tomb might be empty,
but where is the resurrection when we work night and day in a thankless job and yet find ourselves deeper in debt?
Jesus rose from the grave,
but where is the resurrection when our child gets caught in an ugly cycle of drugs and alcohol and we watch them slip away?
but where is the resurrection when after working forty years we realize we're about to lose our home?
but where is the resurrection when we wake up one morning and realize nothing matters to us anymore?
but where is the resurrection when even in the place where Jesus once walked, peace and assurance are figments of the imagination?
It is a glorious story,
but what does it mean for me?
For every promise of God
for every guarantee of the Gospel
we have a “but” to throw at it.
And all of those could stand up to the promises and guarantees
if it were not for God’s “anyway” in response.
I would believe in God, but there is so much suffering in the world.
God says- I choose to love you instead of control you anyway.
I would do the church thing but people are such hypocrites and sinners,
God says- I forgive you anyway.
This resurrection stuff sounds good but it isn’t logical or rational.
God says- I did it anyway.
I would try faith but my life is so miserable,
God says- I am with you anyway and I give fresh starts anyway.
Serving God is a great plan but my little good deed isn’t going to make much difference in the world.
God says- Do it anyway.
Ok sure but I am not sure I really believe all this.
God says- Live it anyway.
The truth is that Easter can be hard to explain,
but delightful to encounter, anyway.
It is beyond simple description
but is the core of sincere devotion anyway.
It is beyond human logic,
but understandable in love anyway.
“But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.” (anyway)
May it be so. Anyway.