Easter Sunday – 2018
Acts 1:34a, 37-43 | Col 3:1-4 | Mk 16:1-7
“when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; it was very large.”
I. Picture this….
- Mary Magdalene – Mary, the mother of James – Salome – come to the tomb
early in the morning, carrying spices to anoint Jesus’ body - they’ve had a rough week, to say the least…
- for a long time, probably two or three years, they’ve followed Jesus – they
have to love him as a dear friend – as a trusted teacher and guide – as a
confidant – as the One, the Messiah they and their people have longed for for
generations - and now there was the trauma of this past week – the accusations, the angry
crowds, the treachery, the deceit of Judas, the Romans, the Jewish leaders, the
mockery of a trial, the scourging, the carrying of the cross, the execution on
the cross – and the burial - as they come they are worried, “who will roll the stone back?” How can we
enter the tomb? - and they “look up” – and in the instance – looking up – none of this makes any
difference…everything changes - cautiously, they enter the tomb. Not only is there no body, but they find a
young man, sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they are
utterly amazed. - he is not here, he says. He has been raised. You seek Jesus of Nazareth – he
has gone on ahead of you into Galilee – go, and tell Peter and the other
disciples - in that moment, their lives changed dramatically – and would never again be
the same
II. Like the two Marys and Salome, we too come to this day of the Resurrection,
many of us carrying burdens – worries, concerns, anxieties, disappointments.
Some of us carry heavy burdens. What if we “looked up?” What if we looked up
into the arms of the risen Lord and allowed him to help us carry those burdens?
A. Everyone is busy. I am always hearing someone say they are “so” busy.
- This is the mantra of our day. I am too am busy, beyond busy. Our busy-ness
keeps us running too and fro, sometimes even to the point of being
disoriented, confused and forgetful. How much sense does our busy-ness
make? - What if we/what if I – looked up – or at least looked up more frequently and
created space to be still and quiet. What if we created space for the Lord to
be present? More fully present in our hearts and in our awareness?
What would if we took that time to listen? To be attentive? Time to be quiet
and the Lord to dwell there? What would happen in our life?
B. What if we “looked up” when we have to face those most difficult challenges
in life? A sudden death – a difficult divorce – family divisions – a life
threatening illness…?
There have been a few times in my life where I have become aware of a
sudden death – usually it’s the case of a younger person – and that person’s
friends went out and got drunk. That was their way of coping – with alcohol.
Are there better ways to cope with these challenges?
What if we “looked up” and embraced the vision of faith? The vision of faith
will give us a broader perspective in how to deal with those traumatic
challenges of life.
- we will be able to know more peace, more inner contentment as we strive to
move forward - we will be embolden with hope – a fundamental trust in God’s care for us.
Hope will enable us to move forward with courage.
C. What if we developed a habit of regularly “looking up?” Most of the time we
do not have to deal with major traumas in life – most of the time our lives are
characterized by family life…going to work…keeping the household running…
getting the kids off to school…trying to find time for some leisure and
recreation…just trying to hold life together….
But what if we intentionally created those spaces…looking up into the vision
of faith…and allowing that faith to more fully fill the spaces and inform the
questions and issues we deal with daily? How would life be better?
III. Whenever we look up into the face and arms of our Lord the burdens we carry
become lighter…our hope is deeper and longer sustained…our anxieties are
calmed…and our steps are lighter. So, “look up” and embrace God’s abundant
life!
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
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Fr. Dwayne Thoman