Sermon Preached by the Rev. Harold T. Lewis, Rector
Calvary Episcopal Church, Pittsburgh
Easter Day, 23 April 2000
"And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid." (Mark 16:9)
Biblical angels, it would seem, have a cushy job. They don't have a great variety in their scripts. They usually open with "Behold!" or "Hail!" or "Lo!" Perhaps if the Bible were written today, they would say, "Yo!" Sometimes they announce that they are bringing tidings. After that, there are only a few stock lines. One of them is "Do not be afraid." When Jesus is conceived, Gabriel tells Mary not to be afraid. When Jesus is born, angels tell the shepherds not to be afraid. And now that Jesus is risen, an angel says basically the same thing to the women at the tomb. These angels must be onto something. And that something is the human penchant for fear. We are all afraid of something. That some dread secret will be revealed. That we will fail at some worthy endeavor, or conversely, that we will succeed at it. Psychiatrists' note pads are full of information about people who shoot themselves in the foot to ensure that they won't succeed, because they are not quite sure how to handle success when it comes. Some people fear that they won't have enough time to accomplish what they feel they must. Others feel that love will pass them by or that if it comes it will be unfulfilling or even painful. You fill in the blanks.
It may come as some small comfort to know that we are in good company. In Mark's Gospel, the faithful women come to the tomb to anoint the body, to pay their final respects.. The stone is blocking the entrance to the tomb. It is miraculously removed for them. The angel sits on top of the tomb and tells them not to worry. "Jesus is risen and is no longer here, the angel tells them, and he points to the empty tomb. He then instructs them to go and tell the disciples that Jesus is risen and has gone before them to Galilee. That would seem to be enough in the way of signs and wonders, wouldn't you think? But Mark tells us that the women were so overcome with astonishment, they fled from the tomb, and didn't say a word to anyone, for they were afraid. And not only is that the end of the story, that's the end of the Gospel! We're left in suspense, kind of like a cliffhanger in a soap opera. Will the two Marys muster up enough courage to tell the disciples? Will fear overcome them so much they will take their secret to the grave? What will happen to the church? Tune in next week.
But no problem. That's why God invented sermons. Preachers love unfinished stories and ambiguous texts. That way, they can earn brownie points from the faithful by resolving the problem and tying up the loose ends. OK, I'll bite. We'll do a fast-forward. I believe that for the women at the tomb, life for them began when they stopped being afraid. Life for them began when they could dare to believe that the risen Christ, the living, walking, talking Christ, made a difference in their lives. Life for them began when they could truly hear the words of the angel and act on them. Life for them began when they believed the story to be true even if they could neither explain it nor understand it. Life began for them when they could finally share the wonderful news they had been told.
My sisters and brothers in Christ, it's basically the same for us. Life begins for Easter Christians when we get on with the business of living. Life is playing with the hand that has been dealt us. Now that doesn't mean that we should never hope for a better hand, but it does mean that we don't fold with the hand we have and deem life to be over. Life begins when we take hold of what has been given us and run with it. Life begins when God gets our attention. Sometimes he goes the dramatic route, and we have a Damascus Road-like experience, but usually it's a little more subtle. Life begins when we have what one theologian calls a "lightbulb moment" when the light comes on and we say "Aha! I get it now." Life begins for Easter Christians when we realize that we do not have to die to live!
I chuckled the other Sunday morning when our good friend and neighbor Rabbi Staitman addressed the adult forum and told us Episcopalians that the stereotype that Jews have of Christians is that Christians believe so much in life after death, that this life becomes little more than a dress rehearsal. He went on to say that too often Christians understand their church-going, good works and participation in the sacramental life as premiums in a celestial insurance policy. I chuckled because I had used the same phrase to describe how Christianity had been distorted. Jesus said that he wants us to have life, and to have it abundantly. And if he meant by that, that abundance would come when we die, he would have said to all the people who come to be healed, "Not to worry about your withered hand, your issue of blood, your blindness; you will be whole in the sweet bye-and-bye." No, Jesus restored them to health in the here-and-now, and then preached to them.
You see, the problem with the two Marys at the tomb is that they were in a Good Friday rut. They came to anoint the body. They were despondent, dejected, and disappointed. They felt duped. They get the good news, but they don't receive it as good news. They cling to their prejudices, their preconceived notions. They can't get on with life. Friends, I want you to identify with the lives of these women after the last verse of the Gospel, the Easter people who learned to have life, and have it abundantly. This morning, as we celebrate Jesus' Resurrection, I want all of you --- those whose grandfathers came to Calvary, and those of you who may be visiting for the first time today; weekly worshippers or occasional worshippers; dyed-in-the- wool Episcopalians or footwashing Baptists --- it doesn't matter ---- I want all of you to take all your Good Friday baggage, the fears, the trepidations you are carrying around, and leave them in the tomb, so that you may be free to be Easter people, free to do what the women could do once they got their act together --- to go and tell the great news; free to let go and let God.
Let us pray:
Come, ye sad and fearful hearted, with glad smile and radiant brow!
Death's long shadow's have departed; Jesus' woes are over now,
And the passion that he bore -- sin and pain can vex no more.Come, with high and holy hymning, hail our Lord's triumphant day;
Not one darksome cloud is dimming yonder glorious morning ray,
Breaking o'er the purple east, symbol of our Easter feast.
AMEN. ALLELUIA.
Please feel free to contact Dr. Lewis
if you have questions or comments about this or any sermon.