Resurrection people

The women went to the tomb in the early morning, to anoint the body.

The two walking to Emmaus were sad and confused about what had occurred.

With much of what we see and hear and read,

death, confusion, despair are common emotions.

The news this past week has included the attack on Brussels, coverage of the US election and some local politics thrown in, and on Thursday a young mother jumped off a cliff at Maroubra with her 2 year old son.

Then there are deaths on our roads.

Workplace deaths and injuries

Assaults

Domestic violence

And the list goes on

In this community, people are concerned about illegal drugs, streets being flooded, and public transport. There is isolation in this community – older people, and also parents looking after young children while their partner commutes long distances.

Many of us know someone living with a mental illness or chronic pain or family dysfunction.

The pain and confusion and despair of Good Friday and Easter Saturday often seem easier to relate to, than the amazement and shock of Sunday morning.

We watch the news in horror as we see the destruction and killing in Brussels, and this is just one of at least 9 terrorist attacks this month. The most recent, as I write, was in a soccer stadium in Iraq on Friday. Another 29 people died.

We may know the rules for the current system, broken as it is; but if the dead don’t stay dead, what can you count on? [Karoline Lewis, Working Preacher]

We are people of the resurrection.

Rev Dr Andrew Dutney, past president of the Uniting Church writes: (here is) one of my favourite sentences from the Basis of Union, the foundation document of the church [I belong to].: “The Church preaches Christ the risen crucified One and confesses him as Lord to the glory of God the Father.”

“The Church preaches Christ the risen crucified One and confesses him as Lord to the glory of God the Father.”

In Jesus, God was doing a new thing.

Jesus showed a new way of living, not exchanging one army with another.

Jesus didn’t fight fire with fire, he didn’t retaliate.

As people of God, how can we respond to the threat of terrorism in our world?

As people who profess the risen crucified one, how can we respond to the violence in our families and community?

As the body of Christ, how can we respond to pain and violence and fear?

It is easy to see evil in the world, and in our lives,

but where do we see resurrection?

Where do we see evil being downtrodden,

where do we see grace flourishing,

where do we see love and forgiveness

take the place of fear and retribution?

Being people of resurrection:

-      insists that the ways of love will win over the ways of hate.

-      confirms that the truth of kindness can be heard over the din of ruthless, callous, and vindictive rhetoric.

-      gives witness to the fact that there is another way of being in the world –

o   a way of being that is shaped by resurrection,

o   that embodies anything and everything that is life-giving,

o   a way of being that is so counter-cultural,

o   so demonstrative of mercy,

o   so exemplary of the truth of Easter

o   that others will listen to you, watch you, wonder about you and say, “Wait a minute. Did I just see the Lord?” [Karoline Lewis, Working Preacher]

Where do we live resurrection?

Where do we encounter resurrection?

It can be difficult to go against the crowd,
to refuse to label all Muslims as terrorists,
to stand with people who are unemployed
to call for social security to be at a liveable level.
It can be difficult to go against the crowd,
especially when that means going against our own self-interest, our own fears, our own wealth creation.

Jesus didn’t hold back love, grace or forgiveness from anyone, even at the cost of his life.

Here are some examples of resurrection life:

A person reads to an illiterate co-worker each lunchtime

A dry-cleaner does free dry-cleaning for unemployed people so they can have a clean outfit for a job interview

The people who offered to ride, and walk, with Muslim people after the Sydney siege.

People who give their time and energy to helping disadvantaged people.

In parts of NSW, Uniting Church people help young people get their licence by volunteers taking them for their 120 practice hours needed before they can go for their driving test.

Our reading ended today with this verse: “Jesus himself stood among them and said to them,

‘Peace be with you.’ “

Where do we see resurrection?

Where do we see the risen crucified One?

The empty tomb,
the word,
the breaking of bread?

Where do we see love and forgiveness and grace?

In what ways do you share the peace of Jesus?