Sermon by The Rev. Dr. Joan E. Beilstein
Church of the Ascension
April 16, 2017 – Easter Sunday (A)
While it was still dark.
While it was still night.
While she could not see.
While she thought death held sway.
While she grieved.
While she wept.
While it was still dark, resurrection began.
A Poem by Jan Richardson
She awoke in a darkness – she knew only too well. Not the darkness of early dawn – but
the darkness of grief. How she wished she could sleep forever – block out the world. But she had
sad work to do. And so – she got up – took spices – and set off – through the Jerusalem streets –
to his burial place.
As she went – she felt angry – at the ordinary things. A baby cried – a dog barked – a
shopkeeper swept his doorway. How can life go on – she lamented – when he is dead – when the
light of my life has gone out?
As she walked on – she thought she knew what to expect – when she got there. Two
sleepy guards – who would argue with her – about removing the stone. And once inside – his
cold - bloody – battered – lifeless – body.
When she arrives at his tomb – nothing is as she expected! The guards are gone – the
stone is rolled away – and his body is nowhere to be found! Panicked – she runs back into the
city – to tell Peter – and John! They ran as fast as they could – to his tomb – only to see that he
was gone – his bloody linen wrappings – lying about.
Perplexed – Peter and John – left Mary alone - at the tomb weeping. I bet they were sorry
they abandoned her in her grief and miss what happens next! Two messengers – appear – and
give her some good news. That he hadn’t been taken away. He is risen!
And before she can talk to them – Jesus him self appears to her – but because his
appearance was different – she doesn’t recognize him – until he speaks her name – Mary. It is
then her eyes – are opened – and flooding back – comes all he had said – while he was alive.
1
Things such as -“The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinner – and be killed –
and will rise on the third day.”
Things such as - “I am Resurrection and I am life, whoever believes in me – though they die –
will live – and never die.”
And she understood. That – new life in God – doesn’t come – necessarily in ways – we
expect – or demand – or envision. And yet it comes. New life comes.
Today – Mary – first Apostle to see the Risen Christ – proclaims to us – this important
message. I’ll repeat it. That new life in God – resurrection – doesn’t come – necessarily – in
ways – we expect – we demand – or envision. And yet it comes. Resurrection comes.
Resurrection comes – in times of sin – grief – and death – in times when life knocks the
wind out of us – to bring us – hope - renewal – reconciliation – new beginnings – and abundant
life. In essence – in the words of Jeremiah – “God will be faithful to us – and will build us up
anew! Will gather us with all families –where we will dance with joy – where life will flourish –
and where we will enjoy the fruits of God’s kingdom.”
In order for us though – to experience this new life – St. Paul tells us today – “That to
experience being raised in Christ – we must seek and set our minds on – the things that are
above – not things on the earth.”
I have come to understand this to me - in other words – we can’t put all our efforts – into
our finite knowledge – or twist our minds around – trying to answer questions – that can’t be
answered – or ponder endless mysteries – that can’t ever be solved – by medicine – science – our
brains – or our logic.
No – my friends - to experience new life – and resurrection – we must abandon – the
things of this world – and take a leap of faith – and put our trust – in the Lord – who lived – died
– and rose for us.
Is this leap of faith easy? No – it’s as hard as ____you can fill in the blank. And will this
leap be required of us – only once in our lifetimes? No again. The spiritual journey – requires of
us – endless leaps of faith – into the arms of the God – if we are to endure – press on – and not –
give up on the life - we have here.
I have a confession to make. I am in the midst – of such a leap of faith myself - right
now. Times – have been very difficult for me – and my family - recently. We’ve not had a lot of
good news.
2
As many of you know – Brian – my beloved thirty-eight year old nephew – has been
battling melanoma cancer for two years. He was cancer free – for 18 months – until three weeks
ago.
A pet scan – showed up new malignant sites. A surgery ten days ago – turned up more
cancer – than expected. The cancer is most likely spreading. In fourth stage cancer – Brian now
must face hard decisions – about his future treatment. Treatments – that are now – aimed at
saving his life.
I don’t know if Brian can beat this. And if he doesn’t - I don’t know how my sister will
survive the death of her son. And I don’t know how our family will cope with his loss – the
bright light – he is in our world.
But I do know this – from my own life and vocation – that no matter what happens –
Brian will be OK – we will be OK. His new life – our new life – if he dies – yes will be different.
But there will be new life. Grief will end. Joy will return. And one day – we will see him again –
face to face. My hope – lies in this leap of faith – in Jesus Christ.
My friends – all of us – walk in Mary’s shoes. We have all known grief. We have all
known suffering. We have all known struggle. We have all known death. And yet – here we are
– still standing. And I suspect deep down – while part of us is here out of obligation - the reasons
are pretty much the same for all of us – why we are here.
To find strength – in Christ’s promise to free us – from the earthly tombs - which pain and imprison us.
To find comfort in Christ’s promise - that one day – there will be no more – crying or
mourning.
To find joy – in Christ’s promise – that he is our resurrection and new life - on earth –
and in the Kingdom to come.
In essence – here we are again – on Easter Sunday – to take a leap of faith – and trust in
the Risen Lord – whose love for us – is everlasting – and who will always choose – to be with us
– in love. Amen.
3