Easter Blessings
By Rev. David Wilson Rogers | April 4, 2015
Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. On this sacred day Christians the whole world over will proclaim the truth of Christ’s resurrection from the dead and rejoice in the miracle of the empty tomb. That whole day was bewildering and amazing in so many ways. First the women arriving at the tomb were filled with fear, shock, and disbelief. That is until Jesus called Mary by name and in that intimate recognition of her humanity, the power of the resurrection became real to her. She believed and hope was restored.
The disciples were still filled with fear—so much so that two of them left Jerusalem completely so they could seek refuge and solace in the nearby town of Emmaus. Along their journey, the Lord appeared to them as a fellow traveler who lovingly opened the scriptures to them in a way that soothed their fear, encouraged their hearts, and set them on a path of belief. They arrived late and asked this presumed stranger to stay with them. Jesus accepted and took bread, blessed it, broke it, and they then knew who he was in the intimate act of breaking bread. They believed and hope was restored.
The other frightened disciples remained in the upper room behind locked doors in fear that those who killed Jesus would seek them out next. Transcending their fear, Jesus appeared to them in the room and blessed them with peace. In the intimacy of the blessing they too believed and hope was restored.
Several days later Jesus again appeared to some disciples along the shores of the Galilean lake. After a long and frustrating night of fishing, he blessed them with a bounteous catch and had the disciples come to shore for breakfast. Jesus then took Peter aside and asking him if Peter loved Jesus three times, he instructed Peter to feed and tend Christ’s sheep. Peter was forgiven, and hope was restored.
Easter is more than an empty tomb and miraculous appearances of Jesus Christ to those who had mourned his death. Easter is about restoring hope amid crisis, chaos, and despair. More importantly, Easter restores hope through the intimacy of acknowledging the hurting by name, breaking bread with those who do not understand, giving blessings to those living in fear, offering forgiveness to those who have failed, and sending God’s people to feed, tend, and care for all in God’s creation.
It is significant that these very problems continue to haunt our world today. People live in lonely anonymity. They are rarely, if ever, addressed by name and their silent suffering seemingly goes unnoticed. They have no hope and need someone to call their name in love.
There are people who see only the hatred and bitter judgment that has been the mainstay for some well-meaning Christians and find themselves journeying without hope along a path of spiritual longing and disappointment. They have no hope and need someone to open the scriptures in ways that inspire and encourage their hearts.
There are people who are living behind walls of fear. They look out on the terror of the world and the bitter animosity among neighbors, or the bitter partisan, classist, and racist dividing lines crippling our society and lose all hope. They need the blessing of Christ coming into the midst of their fear and breathing genuine peace.
There are those whose lives are mired in past mistakes and have no hope. They need the blessing of forgiveness and the opportunity to feed, tend, and care for God’s people in love.
Easter challenges us to live a resurrected life of love, grace, and peace.