Sunday 12 April 2020
Pastor - Rev. Elroy Christopher: First Moravian Church of Georgia
He is Risen
The Lord is Risen! He Is Risen indeed.
These words of salutation proclaim the truth that Jesus conquered death and the grave; they reflect the joy of the Christian; they declare the foundation of the Christian faith – Jesus lives! St. Paul says it this way in writing to the church at Corinth: “And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty, and your faith is also empty.” (1 Corinthians 15:14).
We usually look forward to the sunrise service and the other Easter Day services. We look forward to raising our voices in praise to God.
Others look forward to other activities, which are not particularly directly related to the Resurrection, but which have found their way to becoming a part of the season over the years.
This year is different because we are unable to meet as we would and engage in the usual experiences of the day. The situation thrust upon us significantly affects many of the celebrations of Easter that we have become so dear to us. Indeed, the debate has been, whether churches should be opened or closed for Easter Day services.
Because of the restrictions which are in place for our own health and wellbeing, we will miss many of the traditions of the season. However, I suggest that this need not be detrimental to our faith. Indeed, there are times when traditions can cause us to lose sight of what they are meant to highlight in the first place. In this instance it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
True celebration, true worship comes from the heart (our inner being) and is not dependent on a physical structure which called the ‘church’. While unable to safely gather as the body of believers, we can still be together, not only through technology (as many of us are not getting into), but also and most importantly we are together in spirit and we have the assurance that the once crucified, now Risen Lord is with us as we open our hearts to His living presence.
We can use these moments of spiritual togetherness to reflect on what the resurrection really means to each of us and for us individually and as the collective body of Christ, the .Church. Recognize that we are called to live as people of the Resurrection, followers of Jesus, especially we journey through these difficult days.
The first people to learn of resurrection, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome took spices so that they could anoint the body of Jesus, as was the tradition. Upon reaching the tomb they found that the very large stone was rolled away from the entrance. The body of Jesus was not there. Instead they saw a young man dressed in a white robe who said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him’.
The tomb was empty. They were fearful and amazed, but ultimately, their hearts and those of Jesus’ followers were filled with joy when they eventually saw the risen Lord. They had a new hope and a newness of life.
As we observe this Easter, let the sense of emptiness which we may be experiencing now, give way to renewed hope, and a new sense of purpose for our lives; because we know that by His resurrection, Jesus won for us victory over any adversity we may face. Together in spirit we can proclaim “Alleluia to the Lamb who take away the sin of the world!”
I leave with you this prayer.
O God, for our redemption you gave your beloved Son to the death of the cross; and by his glorious resurrection you delivered us from the powers of darkness; grant us so to die daily from sin that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through the same Christ our Lord.
I pray that we all have a blessed, peaceful, Resurrection Day. By His grace.