April 16, 2017 Easter Sunday

God’s New World

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
That’s how we greet each other throughout the 50 days of this Easter season.
Easter is not a time for long sermons trying to explain the unexplainable.
Today we celebrate. Alleluia! (Alleluia!)
Today we sing and dance and rejoice in the power of God’s life. Alleluia! (Alleluia!)
Today we tell stories. Alleluia! (Alleluia!)
Today we marvel at the awesome love of God. Alleluia! (Alleluia!)
We tell stories of the triumph of God’s love and God’s life. Alleluia! (Alleluia!)
The heart of Easter is the gift of life.
Karl Barth, a 20th century theologian, once said that “the goal of human life is not death, but resurrection.”
That does not mean that death is not a fearsome reality. What it means is that death does not have the final word. It means that as an Easter people, we trust that the last word is the love of God. That’s what we celebrate here today — the goal of human life is resurrection.
Thomas Wright, former Bishop of Durham, writes that “The message of Easter is that God’s new world has been unveiled in Jesus Christ. You are now invited to belong to it.”
Karl Barth and Tom Wright both point to something important, which is that Easter doesn’t end. It continues in the lives of God’s people. Resurrection is God’s ongoing action in our lives and in the life of the world.
And our world needs to hear this good news. Our world needs to hear a word of life and grace.
In the midst of gas attacks in Syria, the dropping of the MOAB in Afghanistan, drought in northeastern Africa, refugees drowning as they crowd into boats seeking a new life—surely our world needs to hear a word of life.
In the midst of a crisis of homelessness in Canada and Cranbrook, in the faces of people who have given up and can only console themselves through addiction to ever more harmful drugs—surely our world needs to hear a word of life.
In the midst of a growing hostility in North America against those who are different than us, in the midst of fear and hatred against Muslims and Jews, in the midst of prejudice against gay and lesbian and transgendered brothers and sisters —surely our world needs to hear a word of life.
In the midst of anxiety about the economy, about health care, about education, about aging—surely our world needs to hear a word of life.
God is unveiling a new world in Jesus Christ. You are being invited to belong to it.
Poet Wendell Berry in talking about urges us to “practice resurrection”.
So whenever we live as witnesses to the fact that the word of life is stronger than the word of death—we practice resurrection.
Whenever we show in our lives that the word of love is more powerful than the power of hatred—we practice resurrection.
Whenever we reach out to other people with compassion and grace—we practice resurrection.
Whenever we live in profound trust that God is healing our world and our lives—we practice resurrection.
Whenever we bless diversity and share good news—we practice resurrection.
Whenever we live with courage and love—we practice resurrection.
Whenever we refuse to give up on the presence of life in our midst and whenever we refuse to give in to despair—we practice resurrection.
Whenever we work in partnership with God for the healing of creation—we practice resurrection.
Whenever we bend towards the love which renews our lives and makes the world a place where all share in the wealth of the universe—we practice resurrection.
“The message of Easter is that God’s new world has been unveiled in Jesus Christ. You are now invited to belong to it.” Alleluia! (Alleluia!)
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Thanks be to God.

Rev. Dr. Yme Woensdregt
April 16, 2017 (Easter Sunday)
John 20: 1–18
Jeremiah 31: 1–6
Colossians 3: 1–4