People's Prayers: Prayers of the People: The Fullness of Empty: Easter Day '19 Yr C

For Sunday, April 21, 2019, Easter Sunday, Yr C, Readings: Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, John 20:1-18

Peter began to speak to Cornelius and the other Gentiles: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him…”

[Acts 10:34-35]

I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have become my salvation. The same stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone…On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

[Psalm 118:21-22, 24]

For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being…so all will be made alive in Christ. [1 Corinthians 15:21, 22b]

Then the disciples returned to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb...Jesus said to her, “Mary!”…Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her. [John 20:10-11a, 16a, 18]

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Easter Day is the most joyous day in the Christian year. While Christmas is lovely and inspiring in its own way, it would be no more than a pagan celebration of the winter solstice without the miracle of the Resurrection. Our Liturgical journey has taken us through the 40 somber days of Lent, and in this Holy Week, we re-enacted the Last Supper with the humility of foot-washing, walked the Stations of the Cross, and experienced the mournful desolation of Good Friday. And now we arrive at the most potent symbol of Christianity - the Resurrection of Christ, our Messiah. The bells and flowers, the alleluias, triumphal music, and soaring voices all proclaiming that Jesus, the Christ, IS Risen.

Before we turn to brightly colored baskets filled with chocolate bunnies, hard-boiled eggs with shells dyed in multiple and vibrant hues, marshmallow chicks, and jelly beans, before the ham or turkey or roast has finished in the oven and all settle into the feast, let us take a moment to review the brief and shining life of the man for whom the face of the world was changed forever, Jesus of Nazareth.

The infant humbly born was celebrated instantly by angels and shepherds alike. A neighboring group of exotic Kings or Wise Men traveled far to honor and worship the One whose Star was a sign for them of a new King in Jerusalem. The current King, Herod, wasn't pleased and so Joseph, warned in a dream, took Mary and Jesus to safety in Egypt and while we aren't specifically told, we are given to believe they returned sometime after Herod's death. We get a glimpse of him at Passover, lost and found in the Temple at about age 12 keeping the Rabbis on their theological toes. The timeline loses him until his cousin John, the Baptizer is prophesying his coming and ultimately baptizes Him. He is about 30 and from his 40 days in the wilderness preparing for his ministry, it is a swift and politically fraught period of about 3 years. His teachings upset the theocratic structure of the ruling Judaic leaders who had compromised their own souls to keep a semblance of power during the Roman occupation. Their devious plots to upend his miraculous healings, his preaching and teaching of compassion, peace, cooperation, justice, and mercy in the hearts of his followers ultimately resulted in their seeming success, a politically manipulated murder of a small-town, would-be prophet. But of course, 2000+ years later, Christ is in still our midst.

We worship, study, and pray to follow the Christ who teaches us to this day that our salvation leads us to eternal life if we but follow him. And now, in our time as then, and in all times since, we must also be wary of the false prophets whose shiny exteriors denigrate the very essence of the message of Jesus. Take care to turn away from the sorcerer who can tantalize with completely anti-Gospel charm and lead us astray as quickly as those who cheered with waving palms and loud Hosannas for Jesus' arrival on Palm Sunday and shouted in cold blood "CRUCIFY HIM" only a few short days later.

We find the fullness of our souls in the empty tomb. Christ is within us and we are marked as his own forever. Let us shout ALLELUIA, CHRIST IS RISEN! And, let us stay the course, in our own brief sojourns in this life, of the truth and love of his Gospel.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Living Christ, Risen in Glory! By rising from human death, You have brought us to the dawn of a new Creation to be made alive in You. Grant us to seek the strength of humility for ourselves through You, die to sin each day, and mindfully choose You as the cornerstone of our earthly life.

Radiant Lord of Life

RESPONSE: Alleluia! You ARE Risen, indeed!

~ Living Christ, Risen in Glory! Resurrect Your Truth and Your Love in all of us who claim faith in You, especially those who govern in all places across this Earth, this Country, and this Community. Inspire us and our leaders to provide mercy, justice, and respect for the least of our companions in this brief mortal journey. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Radiant Lord of Life