New life

Exodus 15:1-11, 19-21; John 20:19-31

We Christians may be unaware of how the joy of the Exodus matches the joy of the resurrection of Jesus. The text from Exodus is a song created by Moses’ sister Miriam and added to over the centuries as the people told and retold the story of the first Exodus from slavery in Egypt.

I hope you can imagine the experience of being told by the leaders of the community to:

-           - Eat a lamb

-            - Spread its blood on the doorways

-            - Get what you can from wealthy friends and masters

-            - Load up and leave in the morning

Then, on the road, you:

-            - Travel until you reach water

-            - Notice the army behind you

-            - See the waters part and walk or ride through

-          -  And see the waters cover the Egyptian army before they could reach you

This is cause for pure joy, because it leads to new life, where the people are no longer enslaved. They can worship the God they choose to worship, in the way they choose to worship. The memory of this event is key moment of divine blessing throughout Israelite/Jewish culture.

… In quite the same way, the cross and empty tomb brings joy for Christians, giving us new life in our faith in the risen Jesus. We are so accustomed to knowing this, we are surprised by Thomas’ reluctance to believe.

I want to give him a break. I think Thomas processes events and stuff the way I do. I often find I can’t give a quick answer to a question or problem. I need time to allow for my brain to process the possible responses, the way my response will be received by people, how I feel and think about whatever it is.

So, here’s what I think happened with Thomas.  He was so distraught at Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion that he needed time and space to think about it. He needed to be alone to do this. He considered the death, and what it meant. It could be the end of all their hopes and dreams for the future, and he needed to grieve that.

On the other hand, Jesus had said this would happen, and he would rise again. What if that were true? That would mean that Jesus is really the Son of God! And that means, he needs to get back to the disciples!

With these thoughts in mind, the contrasting images race through Thomas’ mind when Jesus appears again in the midst of them all. And finally, it all makes sense, and he makes the profession of faith: “My Lord and my God!” And still today, we feel his joy and his reverence.

We are filled with joy because of this good news of the empty tomb and the risen Jesus. We know now that there is something beyond death, and it is good, it is where Jesus is, even if we don’t know just what it is.

The good news leads us to new life. That’s something major, but I got to thinking about smaller things that seem like new life to us. These events and more give us a different perspective on life. It’s like looking at our life circumstances through God’s eyes. First, a quick list, then some stories.

-            - The birth of a baby

-            - Graduation

-            - A new job

-            - A marriage

-            - A divorce

-            - Moving to a new home, of just the right size

-            - Finding a church that fits our faith

I was talking with a friend the other day about dementia and the process of diagnosing it. This friend had someone in her life who saw a neurologist for dementia. This person also had been struggling with walking; their gait was off. The doctor began with testing, and discovered through a spinal tap that fluid was leaking. It was this leak that was causing their gait to be off, and the dementia symptoms cleared up. They are leading a new life and thanking God for good doctors!

My Franciscan sisters Roz and Jeanie talk freely about the new life they found in recovery from their addictions to alcohol and drugs.

For many years now, this bell has symbolized the end of chemotherapy and new life for those who have been battling cancer. However, some patients and families have expressed concerns, because they may never get to the end of treatments, and will never get to ring the bell.  

So the bell is taking on new meanings, expressed in new signage. Anyone may ring the bell, for any reason. So, folks ring the bell because they reached a milestone in treatment, because the new treatment seems to be working, or even because they are having a good day. Today, the bell symbolizes small and large celebrations of new life, one event, one day, or even one moment at a time.

… I certainly hope you enjoyed the Easter Sunday celebrations that reminded us of the new life we have in Jesus and the cross and empty tomb. I also hope you recognize those moments and events that are life-giving for you, and that you give thanks to God for them. Amen