“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don't know where they put him.”
Chances are, this morning, that you are a visitor. Welcome! We are glad you’re here! It’s also possible that you may be a member of our community, but don’t come to church that often. The wry shorthand for some is CEO: Christmas and Easter Only. Ha! We love it whenever you join us! Your presence is always a blessing and we are always better when you are here.
We do it up for Christmas and Easter, our two biggest weekends. We wear fancy vestments, sing a lot, use some incense, do special prayers, and take a long time to get through mass. This is a really important day for us and we spend a lot of time and effort to make it special. If you don’t come that often, you should know this is like our formal banquet, not our weekly family meal. Formality has kind of gone out of fashion: even most of the nicest restaurants rarely have a dress code anymore-no jacket required. We still hold on to formality because we want to give our best to God for what he has given us. I appreciate your patience with us this morning.
Sociologists tell us that the fastest growing category of religious affiliation in the United States is the “nones.” Many are those who were raised in a particular religion, but now are unaffiliated. It’s a step that’s getting easier to take, from nominal to none. Regrettably, it’s also often associated with a growing sense of isolation, separation, and division in our society. Social media was supposed to connect us with one another, but the sad reality is that we feel more disconnected than ever.
Church is a place for us to connect, where we belong to a family, tribe, squad, crew or clan. It is home, where we are loved and learn to love others. Sure, we use technology, but our relationships are primarily analog. And we don’t pretend to be perfect! Some of us are hurt, struggling, filled with doubt and insecurity, grasping for hope. Despite our best intentions, we can judge harshly, sin boldly, and act hypocritically. Sometimes we are more concerned with image over substance, but we are on a journey together. We aren’t just here for ourselves and we reach out to those who are in need. We serve sacrificially, give generously, and make a difference in other’s lives.
That’s because people are important to God. The most important thing, actually. The disciples on the first Easter morning didn’t have it all together. They were confused, scared, struggling to believe. It began to dawn on them, however, that the world had new possibility. Death on a cross with a body in a tomb: case closed. But an empty tomb? Is Jesus alive? Is love stronger than death? Can we have new life?
Easter isn’t about having all the answers, but about hoping in the possibilities. Church isn’t about having it all together, but about journeying together. Faith isn’t about certainty, but about making a go of it, anyway. Love is a way of life. Today, we are making a big deal out of celebrating Jesus’s resurrection, as we should, but the real action is in each of our hearts. Like the disciples, will we begin to believe in what is possible? Will we connect with God and others? Will we dream? Will we truly live?