Greetings! Easter Day--Year A--March 23, 2008

The Reverend David R. Williams

Eternal Father, through the resurrection of your Son, help us to face the future with courage and assurance, knowing that nothing in death or life can ever part us from your love. Amen.

“Greetings!”

The salutation could not be more direct.  The women go to see the tomb.  In a matter of moments they recognize the resurrected Jesus, and he says quite simply, “Greetings!”

We know every year the arrival of a spring day when everything seems to change.  We may not anticipate the exact moment, but this does happen: we all emerge from our home hideaways, our winter shelter.  Neighbors see and talk with neighbors.  “Greetings,” we say.  We may not have said a word to each other since the last of the leaves fell from the trees.

The air is warm.  The sun shines.  The birds sound more vibrant, full with melodious chatter.  The soft whir of lawnmowers is in the background. Windows open.

Yesterday seemed to be that day of transition, new beginning. 

The change does not always happen at the official First Day of Spring or even, for that matter, on Easter Morning. We know there shall be a few more chilly nights, maybe even a surprise snow or ice storm. But we cherish the arrival of a warm sunshine, the laughter of children and fragrance of mulch and mown grass, all making the statement, “Greetings!” 

I was preparing my vegetable garden yesterday.    My ever-so-amiable parents-in-law, Hunt and Mary Williams, here with us today, relaxed on the patio with Sarah, drinking ice tea and catching up on family stories.  Britton and Stephanie and doggie Max had arrived and were out and about, checking with Stephanie’s large family, while our other three kids and families had gathered together in San Francisco for this Easter weekend.

Next door a bunch of children were playing in the neighbors’ yard.  Their young voices sang with happiness. 

“Mummy, mummy, in the grave,” they sang, “Rise up! Rise up!”  And then lots of giggles.  A few minutes later, “Mummy, mummy in the grave, rise up! Rise up!”  More giggles.

“That’s a catchy chant,” I say to myself.  “What could it mean?”  After almost an hour of hearing this curious song “Mummy, mummy in the grave, rise up! Rise up!” I finally leaned over the fence and asked the kids,

“What does this mean?” 

(On this the day after Good Friday, I’m imagining, naturally, something theological, an Easter game of some kind, maybe learned at their churches, or an Easter story.) 

Game it is.  “One person closes his eyes and tries to tag the rest of us while we call, “Mummy, mummy in the grave, rise up! Rise up! And the person tagged gets to be the Mummy.”

Simple explanation. 

The simple message of Easter begins at the grave.

It has been said that unfinished business lingers in every graveyard – broken promises, betrayals, countless secrets left to perish with the departed.  Loved ones and friends visiting a graveside may speak to the departed.  Sometimes we may apologize, even plead, for absolution, but none comes.  Silence stands guard.  The stone of forgiveness will never be rolled away.  Or so it seems.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary carry a burden. 

Their hearts feel heavy and exhausted from the trauma of recent days.  They want to visit the resting place of their beloved Jesus.  Their business with Jesus is unfinished.

The two Marys journey to the tomb.  Imagine their thoughts. 

The disciples Matthew, James, John, Peter, Andrew, Thomas have virtually abandoned their friend and mentor, and certainly these men feel overwhelming shame, guilt, resentment.

 All have some kind of business to tend, when and if they make pilgrimage to the tomb of Jesus.

The women find the tomb protected by soldiers.  Nobody is allowed to get close.  What might the soldiers fear?  What is the concern of the powerful Roman authorities?

“Mummy, Mummy in the grave, rise up! Rise up!”

If Jesus were to walk free, out from the tomb, he would bring back to life old resentments of those most intimidated by him – Pilate, Herod, members of Jesus’ own Jewish family.  Jesus has the power to bring God’s judgment to life again.  Jesus embodies the mantra of God’s promise and God’s new interpretation of old law.

If Jesus walks again, he is dangerous.  The guards at the tomb suggest danger.  Might he harm someone? 

Are we certain we would welcome back our loved ones, much less our enemies or someone we have mistreated?

If a loved one returns from the grave, memories and shames of failings between us--as offspring, as spouses, as friends--again walk the earth.

The women approach the tomb.  Even heaven is not at rest.

An astonishing thing occurs in split second.  The women are confronted with the supernatural phenomena of apocalypse – a ground shaking earthquake, the appearance of an Angel, and the tombstone rolled away.

What happens at this tomb is profound--not just to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, not new just to the disciples hiding with shame and grief—but new to this world.

New to a world desperately waiting for a positive sign, a sign of God’s everlasting love and God’s eternal forgiveness.

“Greetings!” speaks the Resurrected Jesus to the women. 

An angel has just told the women, “Go ahead. Jesus will meet you and disciples in Galilee.” 

“Go ahead.”  Jesus will be there.

The resurrected Jesus wants us on our feet, ready to move ahead with open hearts and minds, with a strong faith and a renewed sense of the boundless needs of God’s creation.

The Resurrected Jesus opens a new future to us.  We move ahead, not just to Galilee but as well to Mebane, Elon, Burlington--to graduations, presidential primaries—in our parish to Heifer and NamasteDirect projects of enabling the poor of the world community to stand on their own feet, perhaps for the first time, ever.

“Go there, ahead of Jesus.”  He will meet you there.

My young friends next door tell me that when they first played this game, they thought the words were, “Mommy, Mommy, in the grave, rise up! Rise up!”

“We know better now.  It’s Mummy.”

Who knows?  Along the way, we may be as fortunate as the two Marys to hear a clarion of hope and new life speak to the most deep, dark place in our hearts.

“Greetings!”  The voice of Jesus is unmistakable.  “Mummy, Mummy in the grave…”

“Rise up!  Rise up!”  The lyrical voices of children echo in the spring breeze.  The warmth of Easter Resurrection and Light has arrived. 

Our Lord is Risen Indeed.  Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

 Amen.