April 1 Easter Sunrise Service

Sunrise service meditation April 1 2018  Jacqueline Hines Bethel UMC, Spring City, Penna.

We made it to another Easter sunrise service, celebrating the risen savior. We positioned ourselves in the last 40 days of penitence and self-denial.  We spent the last several weeks traveling to special services, doing special missions, and offering special prayers all in order to reflect on our weaknesses, humbling ourselves before the only one who can make us strong again.

Now we begin the joyous journey of Easter. It is good to remember that the Lenten season is about 40 days, but the Easter season is 50 days. The time set aside to celebrate new life in our lives is longer than the time set aside to fast and repent of our sins. I also always remember that Job’s story in the bible is followed by the Psalms so full of joy and celebration!

Like Mary, we journey through darkness looking for Jesus, to pay our last respects. When we see that the heavy stone that takes four men to move has already been rolled away, we think the worst. After all, the disciples just borrowed the tomb for a couple nights. Perhaps the owner needed to reclaim his property sooner than expected and put Jesus’ somewhere else.

“Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away,” Mary says. Lord only knows how she planned to lift a thirty year old carpenter who was accustomed to walking several miles in a day. Though finding Jesus was a daunting task, we do resonate with her determination to be find Jesus even though we may not believe that he can do anything for us.

Like Mary, we may resign ourselves to the idea that he is not here until we hear the angels say as they said in the Matthew version of the resurrection story: “He is not here, he is risen just as he said he would… now go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and he will meet you Galilee.”

We may resign ourselves to the idea that he is not here until we hear Jesus call our name like he called Mary in the reading that Terry shared a few moments ago.

It’s absolutely, positively Easter. So whatever darkness or dawning or danger or dream or delight you are journeying through, journey like Mary did. Journey with a determination to show your respect, even if you think there is nothing in it for you. Journey knowing that angels might show up with life-changing news and specific directions on how you can bless the church. Journey, rejoicing more often than you weep, knowing that Jesus has your back and knows you by name. It’s absolutely, positively Easter; let the journey begin. Amen.