Easter Meditation

Resurrection.  It is implausible, unexpected, surprising, unnerving, revolutionary.  Jesus’ rising was a big middle finger stuck in the face of the Roman Empire that believed crucifixion and death were more powerful than love and life. 

The Gospel of Mark captures that first experience of resurrection quite powerfully: “They were saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?’ Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, ‘Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.  But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’ They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid” (Mark 16:3-8).

Resurrection means our lives are challenged to not live in fear of those powers that put people to death for opposing them.

Resurrection means our lives are challenged and graciously empowered to live in love, not hate; inclusion and welcome, not exclusion and rejection; hospitality, not hostility; humility and simplicity, not self-righteousness and self-assertion.

Resurrection means meeting Jesus again in Galilee and going his way, only this time to the cross with him, instead of betraying him and denying him and abandoning him.

And Jesus is crucified today in the poor, the rejected, the ill, the imprisoned, the hungry, the naked.  So resurrection means going to them and being with them, and advocating with them for justice, for the Beloved Community.

Resurrection means living with graciousness, gratitude, love, joy, a sense of humor, openness, compassion.

Resurrection.  It is implausible, unexpected, surprising, unnerving, revolutionary.