The Gospel is from Matthew, the 28thchapter:
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, "He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you." So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
Easter
Extraordinary and Ordinary Blessings
The earth trembled. Suddenly as bright as lighting and as white as snow, an angel appeared and rolled away the stone from the tomb. Deeply afraid, the guards shook and then fainted, becoming like “dead men.” But the angel said to the two women, “Do not you be afraid.”
Did the two Marys hear this as words of comfort? Or were they shaking in their shoes? But even if they were trembling, they listened as the angel – which means messenger of God - proclaimed, “Do not be afraid. You are seeking Jesus – who was crucifed – who was dead and buried. But look! The tomb could not hold him. He isn’t here. He has risen! So “Go and tell…his followers : Go to Galilee where they will see Jesus.”
What a transformation! The two women, who had been mourners on a seemingly hopeless journey of seeking a dead body in a guarded sealed-up tomb suddenly, after feeling the earth tremble under their feet, and seeing a dazzling figure and hearing a proclamation from the angel, became messengers of Good News. So off they go -- only to be surprised again – by Jesus.
That first Easter morning, the women went from seeking to seeing, from mourning death to proclaiming life, from fear to joy. Proclaiming the good news, they were able to shout, “Jesus is Risen! Alleluia!”
Thinking about the extraordinary and transformation of that first Easter morning, I began to think about other transformational stories. Remember the story of Helen Keller and Ann Sullivan? Helen was blind and deaf at time in which no one who was blind and deaf from a very young age had much hope of a future. But her teacher, Ann Sullivan, valiantly persevered …until, one day… as Helen and Ann were pumping water, Ann signed into Helen’s hand the word “water.” Suddenly Helen understood. She suddenly “got” the connection between the symbols that Ann had been drawing on her hand and the concrete items they represented. In that moment, Helen went from seeking to “seeing” through her hands and her life was transformed from being helpless and hopeless to being open to new life, hope and joy. Alleluia!
This is a wonderful inspiring story – and I could tell others about people like Bonhoffer and Martin Luther and Martin Luther King and Dorothy Day – stories that uplift and inspire. But… on this Easter, I was most moved by an ordinary story of grace and joy.
Carol Flom shared the story of her daughter, Maja who lives in Peru. Peru is enforcing extreme stay-at-home laws – people are at risk of arrest if they leave their house – even just to go jogging. As a result, feelings of isolation and all of its damaging effects are also at an extreme. Unemployment is high. Her apartment building has laid off everyone but one doorman who doubles as a security guard and a general fix-it man even in their apartments even though it isn’t part of his job. He looks out for them, making sure to sanitize the elevator and provides hand sanitizer. He’s truly gracious.
Maja tries to return the favor saying, “Every time I leave the building to get groceries, I ask him what he needs. He only ever asks for water. I always return with water and a small something else, usually a pre-made meal of some kind like chicken and rice. Today, for some unknown reason, I brought him these items and also a large brownie cake with festive sprinkles.
He told me that today is his birthday and how did I know? I didn't. He started to cry. I started to cry. We couldn't hug.”
It was an ordinary blessing. The earth did not shake. Lightning didn’t come from the sky. New worlds were not opened to someone born blind and deaf. It was just a large brownie cake with sprinkles… but it meant the world to her doorman. In the midst of all of the social distancing of this time…someone – Maja - had shown a kindness to him on his birthday. And that was a blessing.
On that first Easter day – the world was changed as Jesus transformed death into new life. That was the biggest change ever. And today we celebrate that transforming new life in Christ that we will receive.
We also give thanks and rejoice for other transforming changes in our world, changes that bring hope and healing from braille to penicillin to vaccines for viruses. But for most of us, we are reminded of the love of God when one neighbor cares for another. These are usually smaller, more ordinary ways. But they are powerful. For loving the neighbor and sharing the Good News of Jesus in words and deeds is how we proclaim Jesus.
These smaller, more ordinary blessings remind us to celebrate each joy, each act of love. For these ordinary blessings help to make us more resilient, so at times like these when we face real fears and anticipate and imagine potential problems, we can remember – we do not need to fear. For Jesus Christ has promised to be with us – always. Always. And, like Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, who set off to do the work that they were given, and met Jesus on their way, we too can see Jesus in the midst of our ordinary lives -- as we live with joy and not with fear, proclaiming hope and new life through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
The third verse of “Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds”- sounds like a prayer:
O fill us Lord, with dauntless love;
Set heart and will on things above.
Grant grace sufficient for life’s day;
That by our lives we truly say:
Christ has triumphed. He is Living
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Amen.
May your life be rich with Easter blessings – both Extraordinary and Ordinary as we celebrate the most Extraordinary blessing of all: Jesus Christ is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!