Think of a moment when someone that you least expected to see suddenly stands before you, perhaps in the coffee shop or as you turn the corner on the high street.
A moment when something you had lost is suddenly found again and you can scarcely believe your eyes.
Think of a moment when your fear was suddenly proved unfounded, and you were surprised by joy.
Easter Sunday morning is such a moment.
We resign ourselves to the very worst, and suddenly life turns around!
So, as we approach Easter morning come ready to be shaken from your conviction that nothing can change your situation. Come if you look at the world and feel overwhelmed by its chaos or disillusioned by its promises. On this morning, we remember how Mary went to anoint a corpse and was greeted by a Saviour…
Come to Easter prepared to see your life and the world through new eyes.
Luke 23: 1 – 12
Imagine if you will, the scene. You are one of the women who cared for Jesus…
Now, through senseless barbarity, your revered and beloved leader is dead. As far as you are concerned your world has ended.
To honour his body, and out of devotion, you go to the tomb taking spices and ointments.
Imagine the journey – you are grief stricken; your eyes are full of tears, perhaps in the silence of the early morning you are replaying your memories, all the times you have laughed together, how he could regale a good story, even the ones you didn’t understand, how you had followed his journeys, perhaps battled with the men to get closer…perhaps you are wondering how you were going to move the stone, would someone be there to help…
Then there you are, your eyes just make out the shape of the rolled stone, in disbelief you peek inside the darkness of the space behind it, the tomb is empty, except for the pile of shrouds… how can this be? You look, you search, maybe you stand completely still locked into shock that your mind cannot comprehend what your eyes are telling you…
You are terrified, perplexed, amazed, all at the same time. You don’t know what to make of any of it.
You had thought this was the definite end. As far as you were concerned, there was no meaningful tomorrow.
But something here, has happened beyond your human capacity to understand.
Does this mean… Can this mean… Is Jesus in fact… alive?
Do you say it out loud… is it a shadow of whisper almost uttered in the stillness of the empty tomb?
What happens next confirms it:
Jesus is Alive!
So, on this Easter Day, what will the empty tomb hold for you?
Is it a time of new beginnings? Of letting go. Of being open to the stillness and emptiness of the tomb?
Can we sit in the stillness and let the early morning light slowly break through the darkness of the empty tomb, behind a stone partially rolled away to reveal a new relationship into which we are all invited?
The price of God’s new life is always the same: a letting go of fixed, pre-packaged ideas of what God is like, of what we are like and of what our neighbour is like.
It is a call to get out of the safety of the boat and to walk on unchartered waters. Even, perhaps, to surf adventurously down cascading waterfalls, having no idea where we are going.
In this world that is often so difficult to fathom, often violent, constantly aggressive, impregnated with feats of boundless humanity the words of Desmond Tutu perhaps explain the empty tomb: ‘Goodness is stronger than evil; Love is stronger than hate; Light is stronger than darkness; Life is stronger than death; Victory is ours through Him who loves us.’
Like the women God drew away from the empty tomb to discover the Risen Christ, we too are lead from the tomb to discover new ways of living in Jesus. The mystery of the empty tomb is that nothing, not illness, death, cruelty, treachery or betrayal can separate us for the love of God and so God’s gift on newness of life.
Faithful God, we think of your Church celebrating the Resurrection all over the world. Our worship and our joy make us one in the Gospel. May we grow in love for you and our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Lord, we pray at this Easter time that you would send the Holy fire of your Spirit upon your people so that the good news may be shared with the world.
Creator God, on this day of new life and new beginnings, we thank you for the wonders of your creation as the world around us bursts into life and colour. Show us Lord how to look after your world better, to be good stewards and develop innovative ways to make good use of the world’s resources. May we strive for a fairer distribution of food and energy as we care for the land, water and air that sustain and nourish us.
Sovereign Lord, give wisdom to our leaders and the leaders of the world at large, that they may recognise you in unexpected places, that instead of vying for power, they may strive to work with and for their constituents, that they may recognise the value of life of people near and far.
God of Peace, we pray for all the places in the world that need your peace: places where wars continue to threaten the stability of the nations and the lack of peace has caused so much destruction; places where people have to flee their homes; their families destroyed, lives lost. We pray that whatever evil intends, that you Lord would turn it around for your glory, that in the midst of it all, the Cross stands tall.
Lord of comfort and peace, we ask that you be with all those who suffer pain and anguish; for those who are ill and in need of healing. We pray for the broken hearted and for the lonely, that your very presence would comfort them in their time of need,
Heavenly Father, we pray for those whose hearts have been saddened by the death of someone close and dear to them. Give to them, Father, the strong comfort which no one else can give, and let them know the comforting power of the resurrection of Jesus.
Faithful God, as we go out into the world, we pray that we may reflect your love in our families, our church and community, so that the world can witness that we are followers of the Risen Christ and draw others into Your loving care.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Ruth Dawson – MWiB Media Coordinator
