Monday in Easter Week: What Happened to the Resurrection Event?

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 2:14,22-32 (NRSV)

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the multitude, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know-- this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. For David says concerning him,

`I saw the Lord always before me,

for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;

therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;

moreover my flesh will live in hope.

For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,

or let your Holy One experience corruption.

You have made known to me the ways of life;

you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'

"Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying ,

`He was not abandoned to Hades,

nor did his flesh experience corruption.'

This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.

Psalm 118: 19-24 (BCP, p. 762).


Matthew 28: 9-15 (NRSV)

Suddenly Jesus met Mary Magdalene and the other Mary and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, "You must say, `His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day.

Blog Reflection

What started out as really good news to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, turns out to be an event kept under wraps as the soldiers are paid to tell a different story than what actually happened.  It is amazing what happens when an event that is true, becomes captive to bribery.  

What happens to the resurrection event in our own lives? 

Is the highest celebration of the Church year allowed to bring us and others the joyous news by our having been changed from the inside out?  

Do we respond to the resurrection event by loving our neighbor better than we did before Lent began? 

Did the resurrection do more for us than just going to church with the Easter people who go once a year, because we experienced a spark in our faith, through our behaviors and attitudes towards others? 

Did the Easter event become something we don't act on or talk about, because we are just too busy, or afraid of what others might think?

Sometimes when I read posts of the awful things that happened during Holy Week and Easter on the part of Christians, I wonder if the resurrection has changed us at all.  It is said that this past weekend that Cardinal Dolan used his media power this past weekend to blast President Obama on his policy about contraception concerning religious institutions and the health insurance for their employees.  If the resurrection is a real event, then why was it suddenly put away to make a mockery out of the Crucified Christ in women and President Obama?

This past week and weekend, and now this Easter Week is full of joy and celebration as we greet the Risen Christ who comes to us to say "Peace be with you."   Are we offering peace to each other by more than just the sign of peace at the Liturgy, but seeking to bring peace to our neighbors?

Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people have experienced Lent, Holy Week and Easter as the time of serious bashing.  In the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, I am sure many Parishes read that horrible prayer that the Archbishop asked to be prayed to support the amendment that bans marriage equality for LGBT people.  What might Easter Day have been like to be at Mass celebrating the resurrection, then suddenly rejected as an LGBTQ person when that prayer was said?

The Easter event of the resurrection is about God's justice and mercy.  It means that all of us have been so richly loved by God, that God's Son endured the shame of the Cross and triumphantly rose from the dead to redeem all of us for salvation.   God embraced all of us in this Easter celebration, by helping us know that death is not the last word.  There is resurrection, there is hope.  As LGBTQ people, the resurrection event is our Easter story, as it is for all who consider Christianity as our religion, spirituality and meaning for living.   The love we share for our partners, friends, families, communities, churches etc, is because God first loved us, and showed us the Way through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

How are we telling the resurrection story today?  

Are we telling the story as God's Easter people?

Or, have we allowed the story of the Paschal Mystery to be kept silent, because we let someone pay us off to keep quiet?


Prayers

Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that we who celebrate with
awe the Paschal feast may be found worthy to attain to
everlasting joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.  (Collect for Monday in Easter Week, Book of Common Prayer, p. 222-223).


Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus
Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of
everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the
day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death
of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Collect for Easter Day, Book of Common Prayer, p. 222).


O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815).