Sunday, April 21

Matthew 28:1-20

Lauren Wrightsman

But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised...

“He is risen! He is risen, indeed!”

We begin our Easter celebration with this proclamation. The proclamation that declares that we worship a God who loves us so much that the entire order of death and life has been transformed. Through the resurrection of Christ, we are given the promise that never again will death and sin have the final word. Never again will we stand by a graveside weeping without hope. We still weep in the face of grief and death, but we have a God who has moved into that space and darkness and declared that a new light has come to give us hope. The hope of the resurrection.

Preacher and theologian Barbara Brown Taylor shares the story of gathering cicada shells when she was a young child. She says that they were evidence that a miracle had occurred, for out of them a new living creature had escaped, at night she could hear them singing in the trees. She writes, if you had asked them, I’ll; bet none of them could have told you where they left their old clothes.” (Escaping the Tomb, Christian Century April 1, 1998, page 339)I

When the disciples got to the empty tomb that first morning, the only evidence of the resurrection was a pile of clothes. And yet, their proclamation that the Lord had risen made even the trees sing with new life.

Happy Easter! Happy Resurrection Day!

Questions for reflection:

• How can you “shed the clothes” that keep you from singing out the proclamation that Christ has risen?

• How does the promise of the resurrection give you hope?

Prayer:

Risen Savior, on this day we proclaim you as our Resurrected Lord. May I be one of the very many who will continue to give thanks and sing my praises for your glory. Amen.