EASTER SUNDAY

May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you, O Lord, my refuge and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

SEASON: EASTER SUNDAY
PROPER: A
PLACE: St. John's Parish, Kingsville
DATE: March 31, 2002

TEXT: John 20:1-18 – A Resurrection Story
Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher).

ISSUE: The injustice of Jesus’ crucifixion is overturned by the judgment of God. Jesus lives. This story makes it clear that Jesus is resurrected and lives through his appearance to Mary Magdalene, who is one of the least and last in honor status, but she has loved and had faith in the Lord. The story clearly makes the point that Jesus lives and Mary is part of his continuing mission who proclaims the Good News: Jesus is the Word of God come into the world.
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Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, a grieving woman, Mary Magdalene, goes to the tomb of Jesus. It becomes for her a shocking experience. She arrives at the tomb to find that it is empty. She runs to tell Peter and another disciple whom Jesus loved that the body of Jesus has been stolen, or at least taken away. Peter with the unidentified beloved disciple return and find that what Mary has said is true. (It was somewhat awkward to trust a woman with such a message at that time.) The body is gone. Peter goes into the tomb and if anything is somewhat mystified. The other disciple, perhaps Lazarus, who himself was raised may have some belief that Jesus is risen. At this point there is no certainty of a resurrection and that the body was stolen may be a possibility. The disciples return home. Mary’s grief and wonder keeps her weeping at the tomb.
At this point let me give some background concerning the beliefs of the time, and what an empty tomb actually meant for these early disciples. An empty tomb was terrifying to loved ones. First, let me say that the molestation of a tomb in this period was a capital offense punishable by death in Roman law. It is very unlikely that the disciples themselves would have removed Jesus’ body from the tomb. That would have been far too great of a risk. It was believed at the time that a deceased person’s body would be immediately laid in a tomb and sealed. Over the period of a year as the body decayed. It was believe that this was somehow painful, and was an atonement period for the sins of the person, a kind of purgation period. At the end of the year, the tomb was opened and the remaining bones were place in an ossuary and stored until such time of a general resurrection at the last day. These were the folk beliefs of the period. Thus, the missing body of Jesus was a terrible frightening loss for his loved ones and disciples. They would have wanted to know his whereabouts on the last day, and assured of his resurrection, but his body is missing. It is an emotional and serious concern, and loss. In the story you can sense the dreadful loss on Mary’s part through her continuing grief.
Mary then looks into the tomb for a second time and sees two angels in white, possibly the Elijah and Moses who were present at Jesus’ transfiguration, sitting at either end of the funeral bier. “Why are you weeping?” They ask. She turns around and sees this figure that she believes to be the gardener, and he calls her by name, “Mary!” (The Good Shepherd knows his own sheep by name.) Mary recognizes Jesus, and responds, “Rabbouni!” (teacher, but really more than that, Great One.) Jesus is the Word of God. He speaks the word, “Mary!” and she is enlightened into recognition that The Lord has risen. Clearly, and unmistakably, Jesus lives!
The meaning here is that while the Roman Government condemned and crucified Jesus, and the Judean powers colluded with them, and totally dishonored him by death on the cross, God’s power is greater and Jesus is acquitted; He is raised up and given the greater honor and glory of God.
When we examine and study the story of Jesus Christ in the gospel accounts there is the continual them and refrain: The last shall be first and the first last. In the opening story, it is shepherds who are called to see the glory of God in the birth of Jesus Christ. Lepers and untouchables are who are outcasts are both touched, honored, and restored to community by Jesus. Blind folk become enlightened; deaf folk are enabled to hear the strengthening message of God through Jesus Christ. Lame and sick are raised from their beds. Children, orphans and widows, tax collectors are called to be the children of God. Hopeless, despairing and dead people are raised up. Throughout the Christian Scripture all that are fallen and discarded are being raised up. That’s the message, and that’s the Gospel. God has come to us to raise us up. Unquestionably his own Son, dishonored by the powers of the world is acquitted and raised up as well. Jesus lives; and on this day we rejoice in that spiritual fact. Jesus lives and is among us.
Mary Magdalene among Jesus’ disciples was probably one of the least. Yet she is the first to see the Risen Lord, and assumes the responsibility to tell all the others, “I have seen the Lord.” The Lord is risen indeed. And the Risen Lord is not a resuscitated body, but an on going living presence for all who will turn to him and believe. God’s living presence is with us. The Word of God is with us. We live with hope in the garden of God where Christ lives, and there is no more weeping and sighing, but the hope of life lived to the fullest.
With the living Christ, Mary Magdalene, the other women, the disciples, Peter, James, and John, the apostles and all those folk who having been baptized believe and trust in him as the way of resurrection and life are his continuing body living in the world called to join him in proclamation of the love of God, the forgiveness of God, and raising up the fallen in hope and joy.