The Season of Easter, April 1, 2008

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! We are celebrating the season of resurrection and new life. I have preached about the appearance of Jesus to Thomas and this Sunday will preach about the appearance of Jesus to the disciples on the road to Emmaus. I remember being a chaplain at a large regional hospital. I was on twenty-four hour on-call and all one night I was dealing with death - one death right after another. When I walked out in the morning, the sun was shining and the birds were singing. It is my clearest sense of resurrection. The effect of encountering life when you have been totally engrossed in death, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, is absolutely stunning. I was able to visit my friend Evelyn on Palm Sunday. Evelyn was dying of cancer, but she was fully living her remaining days on earth. She celebrated her birthdayGood Friday, had the official party on Holy Saturday, Easter on Sunday, her wedding anniversary on Monday, and quietly went to be with her Lord on Thursday. Her funeral was yesterday. When I saw her, she literally got out of bed and danced around the room. She appreciated every moment of this life and yet was joyfully anticipating the life to come. May we all dance because the kingdom is now and our Lord is risen from the dead. May we all continue dancing until we reach the kingdom on the other side, and resurrection is unto the ages of ages.