Loving God, you communicate the good news to us that Christ is risen, and yet so often we live as if it isn't true. Lead us to encounter the risen Jesus as we gather together for worship today, and teach us to find our strength and our hope in him; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

It seems patently obvious at the end of today's gospel that this is not the end of the story. The empty tomb doesn't really convince anybody about anything, and even two men in dazzling clothes don't quite do it. By the end of today's gospel, the women are perplexed, and probably exasperated, too. The disciples don't believe a word that the women have to say, and Peter is simply "amazed."

I really don't think that you or I would react much differently. If you had just watched a person whom you love die, had seen them buried, and then found out a couple days later that the tomb is empty, would that really convince you that they are alive again? No - for most of the disciples, it took many personal encounters with the risen Jesus before they were convinced.

In the gospel of Luke, these encounters with the risen Christ always seem to take place around the Scriptures and around the table. Each time that Jesus appears to his disciples, he opens their minds and their hearts to understand the Scriptures and explains those Scriptures to them. At the same time, there is always a meal involved. The first time that Jesus appears, it is in the breaking of the bread that his identity is revealed to the disciples (Lk. 24:35). The next time, Jesus eats some broiled fish in their presence in order to convince them that he is not a ghost (Lk. 24:41-43).

It is no accident that when we gather together for worship, it is centred around the Word and the Meal, for that is where we, too, encounter the risen Jesus. For us, too, it is not reports about an empty tomb that lead to faith, but personal encounters with the risen Lord. We encounter Jesus through both reading and hearing the Scriptures, through receiving his love and mercy in the Sacraments, through worship and prayer, and through the lives of those who believe in Jesus. Jesus is not dead. He is living and active!

The question is: Do we believe it? Do we live as if Jesus is dead, or do we live as if Jesus is alive and active in our lives? In the final chapter of the gospel of Luke, there is a huge difference in the behaviour and feelings of the disciples between when they think Jesus is dead and when they know he is alive. When they think that Jesus is dead, they are profoundly sad. They are filled with fear and terror, and they are plagued by doubts and disbelief. However, once they encounter the risen Jesus, they exhibit joy and energy. All they want to do is worship and praise God. It is as if their hearts are on fire, and they want to tell others about Jesus.

Now, I am well aware that the life of faith is not one continuous high, but what is going on if we never, ever, experience any joy in our relationship with God? What is going on if we are constantly worried and fearful and plagued by doubts? Are we living as if Jesus is dead, or as if he is alive and active?

Certainly, Christians are not promised any less trials and troubles in this life than any other human beings. In fact, the Scriptures promise that many people may experience additional trials because of being persecuted for their faith. Yet, Christians are assured that, in the midst of all that life has to throw at us, we have one who lives, who suffers with us, and who rejoices with us. We have one who has defeated even death, and who gives us strength and hope in times of trouble. As the old hymn goes: "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow"!

Yet, how often do we act as if Jesus is dead? The apostle Paul wrote about how he had learned to be content in all circumstances. It didn't matter if he was hungry or well-fed, if he had plenty or just a little. Those things just didn't matter because he had what was most important: salvation through Jesus Christ. Because Jesus was living and active in his life, Paul was able to write: "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13).

In contrast, how many people talk as if they can't do a thing about anything? Nothing is right. Nobody cares. If things were just like they used to be, then it would be okay. Discontent seems to be rampant, and people firmly believe that they are powerless to do anything about it. Now, there may be situations where we can't do much to change our outward circumstances, but that doesn't mean that our inner attitude needs to be one of helplessness. When Paul wrote about being content in all circumstances, those circumstances included illness, imprisonment, torture, hunger, and shivering cold. Yet, he could live through all these things because of Jesus, who lives, and who strengthens him.

Actually, in our life together as a church, do we really act as if Jesus is alive and active? How many times are statements or decisions made out of fear? Do we spend our time worrying about the future or asking what we can do through Jesus Christ today? Do we spend our time protecting what we believe to be ours, or do we freely give and use what we have, knowing that where God guides, God provides?

Now, I'm not talking about sticking our heads in the sand. We do need to be observing what is happening in our church. However, ministry and mission that is centred in Jesus Christ is not about to disappear any time soon. Other things that are not centred in Jesus Christ might well disappear, and the church will always change form over time, but Jesus Christ and his body, the church, will continue to live and to grow in love.

So - do we act as if Jesus is alive and active, or do we act as if Jesus is dead and we are powerless? I mentioned earlier how the behaviour and attitude of the disciples changed after they had encountered the risen Jesus. Sadness was transformed into joy. Fear was transformed into love. Doubts were transformed into praise, and terror was transformed into wonder.

May we, too, encounter the risen Jesus today in the Word and the Meal, and be transformed by that encounter. And may we find ourselves able to say with Paul, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Amen.

The Resurrection of Our Lord (C) Luke 24:1-12

April 8, 2007

St. Luke's Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison Moore

? 2007 Lynne Hutchison Moore All Rights Reserved