St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Owings Mills MD
April 9, 2023
Year A: Easter Day
Acts 10:34-43
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
Colossians 3:1-4
John 20:1-18
Easter is Our Signal
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Well, these past few days we have been on quite a journey together.
A week ago, many of us gathered here for the Palm Parade, remembering the triumphant entry of King Jesus into Jerusalem.
Just like people in Jerusalem long ago, we waved our branches and sang our Hosannas – and, just like two thousand years ago, in a time of hope and anxiety, it seemed like everything was about to change.
And it was – just not in the way anyone expected.
The Roman occupiers of Israel did not tolerate any dissent – there would be no talk of kings, not even one as unusual and unlikely as the teacher and healer from Nazareth.
And so the Romans did to Jesus what they did to so many others – nailed him to a couple of pieces of wood and let him die in agony – a stark and horrifying warning to any would-be troublemakers.
Although Jesus had told his friends that he would rise again on the third day, it seems they would not or could not believe it.
I mean, after all the pain and trauma they had endured, who would dare to hope for new life, right?
So, early on the morning of the third day – so early that it was still dark – Mary Magdalene went to the tomb.
Why was she there?
Sadness, duty, love, but surely not hope.
Mary Magdalene discovered that the tomb was open – it seemed that there were still more horrors to endure.
She runs to get help – and Peter and the other disciple, they race to the empty tomb, take it all in, and then go back home – they offer no help and have no answers.
But then Mary Magdalene is there alone – or so she thinks.
There are two angels who ask what must have seemed a cruel question: “Woman, why are you weeping?”
And then, the “gardener” appears and Mary appeals for his help in recovering the body – still not even daring to dream of new life.
But when the “gardener” calls her by name, “Mary,” she knows.
She knows the best news of all time:
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Following Jesus’ instructions, Mary races to the others.
For however long it took for her to reach Peter and the rest, Mary was the entire church – carrying the Good News into the world:
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
And now our journey has brought us here to this holy place on this most beautiful morning.
We have been blessed by God.
And we’ve also been blessed by the devotion, skill, and hard work of so many people – our church staff and volunteers, the altar and flower guilds, our choir and just so many wonderful people who love God and love our church.
As you probably know, last week – Holy Week – is the busiest week of the year for clergy and, really, for everyone engaged in church work.
What you may not know is that each year on the Tuesday in Holy Week, the clergy gather at the cathedral to renew our ordination vows and receive Holy Oil blessed by the Bishop.
Now, what I’m about to say needs to stay just between us, OK?
Every year I think, why do we have this renewal of vows service during the busiest week of the year?
All of us clergy have many sermons to write and tons of bulletins to proofread – there is so much to do. Why not have this service the week before or some other time?
Now, I confess that usually the service is so beautiful that by the end of it I’m feeling better about the whole thing. But then I forget. And a year later I’m grumpy all over again.
Anyway, this past Tuesday morning, I was driving in the city, heading toward our cathedral on West University Parkway, feeling kind of irritable, when I was stopped by a red light.
It was at an unusual intersection because there was another intersection just a few feet ahead with its own traffic light – I bet many of you know the place.
And since the two sets of traffic lights are not in sync, there’s a sign hanging beside the light that I was stopped at.
The sign reads: “THIS IS YOUR SIGNAL.”
I looked at that sign for a second – “THIS IS YOUR SIGNAL” – and I thought, I have never seen a sign like that before.
I don’t think we have them in New Jersey!
And then, while I waited for the light to change, I looked around and, I’m not kidding, it was like the world was transformed. I saw the beautiful trees blooming and all sorts of people making their way along the sidewalk – running, pushing baby strollers, going to or from class – I looked around at all of the life – all of the goodness buzzing around me – and suddenly I felt much better about interrupting my busyness to renew my ordination vows.
And, about a second before the light turned green, it occurred to me that Easter is our signal.
Easter is our signal.
Easter doesn’t fix all of our problems and make everything all better, but Easter is our signal that, no matter how it sometimes seems, fear and hate do not get the last word.
Easter won’t put us into a permanent good mood – I mean, there’s a lot to be unhappy about - but Easter is our signal that God is always at work, transforming death into new life.
Easter is our signal that, just like Mary Magdalene, we are called to carry the Good News into our suffering and anxious world, using both our words and our actions.
Easter is our signal that it’s time to open our doors, open our arms, and, most of all, open our hearts to whomever God sends us – welcoming everyone, especially new and much-loved brothers and sisters, like Josh and Maya and Josie who are about to take the plunge into new life – and Gladys who will be right there beside them.
So, my beloved St. Thomas’, look around and the see the beauty of Easter – smell the beauty of Easter – feel the beauty of Easter – because Easter is our signal!
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Amen.
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