For Sunday,
April 17, 2022, Readings:
Isaiah
65:17-25, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Acts 10:34-43, Luke 24:1-12
I am
about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be
remembered or come to mind. But
be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create
Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. [Isaiah 65:17-18]
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]
…when they
went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed
about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The
women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said
to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but
has risen…returning from the tomb, they…told this to the apostles. But
these words seemed to them an idle tale, and [the apostles] did not believe them.
[Luke 24:3a-5,
9a, 12]
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. Fill us with the willingness to seek Your strength of humility for ourselves, to die to sin each
day, and to 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
Alleluia!
You ARE Risen, indeed!
~ Living Christ, Risen in Glory! Restore hope to the hopeless
and faith to the fearful, soothe the suffering and grant stamina to all who
serve You in others. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in
need…add your own petitions
Radiant Lord of Life
Alleluia!
You ARE Risen, indeed!
~ Living Christ, Risen in Glory! Lift the veil of grief from all
who mourn as our loved ones now dance in the limitless joy of eternal life with
You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Radiant Lord of Life
Alleluia!
You ARE Risen, indeed!
~ Living Christ, Risen in Glory! We pause in
this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions,
petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…add your own petitions
Radiant Lord of Life
Alleluia!
You ARE Risen, indeed!
~ Living Christ, Risen in Glory! May Your Resurrection be the
source of unbounded elation that overflows in all who are anointed to guide our
spiritual paths and enliven our desire to be renewed as Your own forever. We
pray especially for: add your own petitions
Radiant Lord of Life
Alleluia!
You ARE Risen, indeed!
The Celebrant adds: Alleluia! Our Lord is Risen! Holy Jesus, excite our hearts
and minds, and transform our souls with the miracle of Your return from the
dead. Infuse our consciousness with Your Immortal Presence that our thoughts,
words, and actions begin and end in You. We ask through You, our Savior
Glorified; and the Holy Spirit, the Fire of our Faith; who together with our
Luminous Creator, are One God, now and forever.
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