Sunday Sermon - Easter Sunday

Happy Easter!  

For us, more than even Christmas, Easter is the highlight of our year. It’s our biggest and most important Christian festival, and perhaps the most confusing and challenging one.

Let me explain.

First, I’d like to read a few passages from Luke.  The scripture passages precede that which we read in today’s Gospel.

Luke 9:22:

"And he said, 'The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.'"

Luke 9:44-45:

"'Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.' But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it."

Luke 18:31-33:

"Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, 'We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.'"

Then there is the story of the Transfiguration, an event that also occurred before Jesus’ death and resurrection, when Jesus brought Peter, John, and James up a mountain to pray. While there, Jesus was transfigured, His appearance changed, and His clothes became as bright as lightning. Moses and Elijah appeared with Him, and Peter, James, and John witnessed, they saw with their own eyes, this extraordinary event which foreshadowed his Resurrection. 

So here’s my confusion.

Despite being explicitly told by Jesus about His death and resurrection, and even after witnessing the glorious transfiguration, Peter and the other apostles struggled to believe the resurrection. When the women came back from the tomb to report that Jesus was not there, the apostles took their words as an "idle tale" and did not believe them. Peter had to see it for himself, so he ran to the tomb and was amazed by what he found. After all that Jesus had said and after what Peter had already seen with the transfiguration, he was amazed? Really? Why would he be surprised? Jesus had repeatedly told him this was going to happen.

Let me share a personal story. Many years ago, when I was a young priest, new to Peterborough and early in my curacy at St. John the Evangelist, I attended a Clericus meeting. Clericus is a gathering of all the Anglican clergy in our Deanery. After the meeting, we usually have lunch together.

One day, while at lunch, I sat beside one of the older clergy. I remember this vividly, like it was yesterday. He turned to me and asked directly, "John, do you believe in the Resurrection?" I thought it was a trick question. I had recently been ordained and was firm in my faith. Without much thought, I quickly responded, "Of course." Almost glibly. But he wasn't satisfied with the quick and non-reflective answer. His penetrating eyes sought something deeper. He then quietly said, "I think I have to retire. I'm not sure I believe in that anymore."

I was stunned into silence. This was a priest that I looked up to, who had served for over 60 years, a beloved cleric and a great leader, not just in his parish but throughout the Diocese.

Doubt and faith. These are two sides of the one coin that Christians constantly flip.

Here’s a historical argument, the facts, if you will: 

The resurrection story is present in all four Gospels and in Paul's letters. Although each account has its unique variation, they share enough similarities to suggest that this event was known in the earliest days of the Christian community. These are first person, first generation accounts.

After the Resurrection, the timid Apostles who had been hiding were suddenly emboldened and empowered to spread the Good News that Jesus had done exactly what He said He would do. He’d rise after 3 days. Why, all of a sudden, did they get so convicted to evangelize?  

Even some who had opposed Jesus saw the risen Christ and testified to His resurrection. The dissenters had changed their opinions after his death. Why would they do this unless they witnessed his resurrection? There is no other reason for them to change their minds.

These accounts are just a very small slice of the compelling evidence for the historical argument that is proof of Jesus’ resurrection.  However, ultimately, what we believe, what you believe, is between you and God.

We may wonder how the women who had to be reminded by the angels about Jesus' resurrection, and the apostles, who were repeatedly told by Jesus and were eyewitnesses to the Transfiguration, could struggle to believe. But their doubt mirrors our own. 

It’s okay for us to have questions and to ask, "Did this really happen?" It’s okay for my old friend to have his questions too, even after more than 60 years in the priesthood. God gave us inquiring minds for a reason. We should use them.

Here's what I believe: something incredible happened that morning when the women went to the tomb and found it empty. The accounts were so accurate and reported so soon after the event that I believe Jesus rose and appeared to His followers. For me, that’s not just faith; it's fact.

My faith comes into play when I translate my belief into the understanding of why Jesus died and came back again. I believe, faithfully, that Jesus died and was resurrected to save me from my sins, to lead me on a path to forgiveness and to show me how to best live my life - to love others as He has loved me. That’s faith and the calling that I'm obligated to live every day.

So why does this matter?

Does our belief in the Resurrection matter because we want assurance that we, as penitents, are saved from our sins? Yes, but the resurrection only truly matters when it transforms our lives. Jesus walking out of the tomb - Easter - has no purpose if we don't live for Him, love for him, according to His teachings.

Jesus’ resurrection is made real when we feed the hungry, love the lonely, nurture the sick, and care for the suffering. Jesus’ resurrection is made alive in us, when we follow Him just as He asked us to, mandated before He died.

Easter is an annual celebration to re-energize us. Coming out of Lent, we are spiritually rebooted to live the loving life we are called to as Christians. When we do, the words of Isaiah’s prophecy we read today can be fulfilled. God working through us can bring peace and joy into the lives of others.  

The Resurrection of Christ can be hard to fathom as a historical fact. It was clearly hard for Jesus' own contemporaries to grasp and hard for my old clergy friend to comprehend. Moments of questioning are okay, but I pray they do not become obstacles to your purpose as a loving follower of Christ.

Even in the midst of doubt, let us hold onto our faith, and I pray, let the miracle of the Resurrection that we celebrate this day - and really, every day - inspire us to live with love, with courage, and compassion.  

Amen.