The sermon on Easter Sunday got me thinking about the meaning of resurrection, both theologically and practically. Of course, we first think of Jesus rising from the dead. We can only imagine what that meant to Mary Madelene, the disciples, and the representatives of the Roman Empire—the priests and leaders of the Jewish religion. Depending upon which gospel you read, you might find relief, fear, confusion, second-guessing, happiness, or understanding.
But as I sat in the service on Easter morning, I thought about what resurrection means to me. It wasn’t about some future time of rescue from life on earth. Resurrection means I have a new opportunity to recommit to following the way of love.
God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,
Lamentations 3:22-23 (The Message)
his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness!
As the sun rises every morning, I get to start over learning to love. If yesterday was filled with doubts, anxiety, and fear, today, I have a clean slate. I can begin again with the affirmation of God’s love. That the Spirit is within me. That God is still upholding and creating in the world within and around me. Resurrection offers an opportunity to fully experience God’s love anew.
Resurrection also allows me the opportunity to reimagine how I want to live my life. To reimagine my freedom and find a new way of living that leaves addictions and unhelpful behaviors behind. It is an opportunity to stop seeing those around me as better or worse than me, judging where they fit in the world’s hierarchy. To become more aware of my biases so I can see the unique and wonderful in those around me and how they might experience fear or joy in daily activities just as I do.
I left the church on Easter Sunday with a renewed commitment to keep my eyes wide open to the beautiful and ugly, the soft and the hard. To accept all of myself (body, mind, and spirit), to experience every feeling, and to allow life to unfold unforced and unjudged. As Mary did that Easter morning, I have the opportunity to see the stranger I meet is my beloved.
Jesus said:
John 10:10 (NRSVUE)
“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Invitation
What would change if you chose to live the resurrection every day? What would you leave behind in the grave of yesterday? What new and wonderful will it allow to emerge?
Life Is a Journey of Discovery 