Easter Vigil
April 23, 2011
Tonight, we have heard 4 stories of our salvation history. There are many more we might have heard – the full plan for the Easter Vigil service is to hear twelve Old Testament readings, each followed by a sung psalm or other poetic responsive reading. These ancient texts remind us of how much God loves us and how much wants us to lead full lives in relationship with God.
In the reading from Genesis, God creates the world and everything that is in it, and everything is good. God made humankind in God’s own image, and made sure that the humans had everything they needed to physically survive. But God gave more than physical sustenance – being made in God’s image means we have a relationship with God shaped by God’s own being. We are designed to love and care for each other and all of creation.
In the reading from Exodus, we find the Israelites trapped between a rock and a hard place – literally between the water of the Red Sea – or Sea of Reeds
As Moses stretches out his hand, the waters separate and the Israelites walk safely through the water. The Egyptians see the opening and plan to take advantage of it, but God says, not this time, and the waters crash in on them. God has saved the Israelite people from death. As a result the Israelites have their faith in God renewed, and the relationship between God and the people is strengthened.
The reading from Isaiah reminds us that God’s love is not for sale – it is available for free. Neither is God hard to find; God is very near to us, as close as our hearts. All nations should know what the Israelites know – that God provides. Even the rain and snow come from God to nourish the earth and make it flourish. We also hear that God is not like humans – God is merciful and offers pardon when we would not. This is a God with whom we want! to have a relationship.
The fourth Old Testament story is the familiar story of Daniel’s friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They are among the leaders of Israel living in exile in Babylon
Thrown into the fiery furnace, a fourth person is seen in the furnace with the three men, and they are unharmed by the blazing heat. We don’t know who this fourth person is, but it is likely an angel sent by God or God’s Holy Spirit. As a result of the astounding survival of the three men, King Nebuchadnezzar praises the Israelite God.
These stories plus the ones we didn’t read: Noah and the Flood, the Valley of Dry Bones
That doesn’t mean that God will cure any ill, or solve any problem, but God does act within history, sometimes in mysterious ways, sometimes through humans acting with God’s purposes in mind. These actions are designed to bring us into a closer relationship with God.
As we turn to the Gospel according to Matthew, we remember that even though Jesus told the disciples repeatedly that he would suffer and die and be raised from the dead, they found it impossible to think it would really happen. So, on the third day after Jesus’ death, as soon as possible, two Marys go to the tomb to grieve.
As they approach, an angel causes the stone to roll away from the tomb. It is such an astonishing sight that the guards – Roman soldiers! – are stunned into silence and stillness. They watch and listen, but they are powerless to act.
The angel speaks to the women, “Check it out. He’s not here. He has been raised from the dead, just like he promised you. Go and tell the other disciples, “He has gone to Galilee and will meet you there.” So the excited, amazed women run to tell the disciples. On the way back, they meet the risen Jesus. They fall to the ground and worship him. Jesus repeats what the angels said, “Tell the disciples to go to Galilee . I’ll see them there.”
Now, think about this. The two Marys have seen the risen Jesus and run to tell the others. They all pack up and head to Galilee , a trip of several days. Matthew’s story says they meet on the mountain. Matthew is not specific. Perhaps this is the familiar territory of their home town, Capernaum
What do you suppose the conversation was like as they travelled? What stories did they tell each other? Did the other disciples really believe the women? Did the women begin to doubt what they had seen?
When they reach the place where they would see Jesus, Matthew’s gospel wastes no time on the disciples rejoicing to be with Jesus. It’s told in half a sentence: “When they saw him they worshiped him.”
Then, in the very next sentence, Jesus tells them to go out and tell others, reaching the entire world with the message: God loves you; God forgives you; God wants to have a relationship with you. Baptize, teach, share the good news.
This message is for us, too, since we are also Jesus’ disciples. This is Easter, the time when we celebrate God’s power over death. Because Jesus has been raised from the dead, we know that we, too, can have a life with God after we die. This gives us hope. This gives us a connection with other believers. This is news worth sharing.
Today, more than in the past, there are countless people with absolutely no relationship with God. We can help them know Jesus by sharing our enthusiasm, our joy, in knowing God loves us and forgives us. We can tell others that God wants to have a relationship with us, and that God will go to great lengths – including the life and death of God’s Son – to let us know how much God wants this.
Please pray with me: Almighty God, we rejoice in your amazing love for us. Call us to yourself, fill us with your love, and send us out to share that love with those who don’t know you love them. Amen
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