Finding Christ in the Dark
Finding Christ in the Dark A Sermon by The Rev. Denise A. Trogdon
The Sunday of the Resurrection Easter Day April 20, 2014
Saint Luke’s Parish Darien, Connecticut 1
Alleluia Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Amen Years ago, during an early spring planting in the garden, I came across a mound in the mulch. Buried in the pile was a den of newborn bunnies, huddled together sleeping peacefully. With Mommy nowhere in sight, I worried these little babies would be carried off by the nearest predator. But instinct told me not to touch the den. Showing the discovery to my children, my son made it his duty to guard their home and check every day as to their progress. He gave each bunny a name and became quite attached. I warned him that one day they would grow up and leave their den, if we let nature take its course. Later that spring when thoughts of chocolate bunnies and Easter baskets danced around in children’s heads, we were diligent in reciting the Easter story and what it all meant. On one visit to the garden to see his beloved babies, my son ran into the house beaming, announcing, the tomb is empty! I have faith those bunnies found their way, as they were later spotted checking out my garden fare!
2
In the gospel passage this morning, we hear the account of Mary Magdalene and her discovery of the empty tomb. Mary was one of Christ’s faithful followers who stayed with Jesus to the bitter end. The death of her Lord signaled the death of hope among her people. Mary came to the tomb early that morning, while it was still dark. Her heart broken, she must have been seeking some sort of peace from the horror that had taken place. When Mary saw that the stone had been rolled away, she assumed the worst. His body had been stolen and she did not know where to find him. The emptiness unbearable, she ran to the place where the disciples hid, terrified at the events that had unfolded. When Peter and the beloved disciple ran to the tomb and saw Jesus was gone, they didn’t stay long. But Mary lingered, weeping for her Lord. Risking another look into the emptiness, she saw two angels, sitting where the body had been laid. When the man she thought to be the gardener, spoke her name, Mary knew at once it was Jesus. Easter came the moment she recognized the living Lord.
3
Since we know this story and what came after, we can assure Mary that all will be well. Something in us wants to skip to the shouts of jubilation, He is risen! But there is much to be learned by walking through this account as it happened, witnessing the fear and misunderstanding that befell those Christ followers. For them the empty tomb was just a barren grave and nothing to celebrate. Not until Jesus called Mary by name did she recognize him. Isn’t that also true for us today? How often have we had an encounter with the risen Christ without recognition? The rhythm of this ancient narrative patterns for us our own spiritual journey; life, death, resurrection, hope. Mary, confronted the dark emptiness of the tomb, and in it, she found the place of her hope and renewal in the risen Christ. Life was in the midst of death, but there is no getting around the darkness. When we experience the empty tombs of our lives we must seek Jesus as if our lives depended on it. It takes faith to wait in the dark, but Jesus will call us by name. The moment we recognize Christ in the dark, our Easter has come.
4
Author and theologian Barbra Brown Taylor’s newest book Learning to Walk in the Dark, talks about the power of walking through suffering and emptiness to find life on the other side. Sometimes it is hard to discern the light unless you are in the dark. But she speaks of a culture obsessed with happiness, where the dark evokes fear and isolation. We have many images of the dark not the least of which is the absence of God. Mary thought that was exactly what she encountered by walking into that empty tomb. This author cites many Biblical examples of where God came to people in the dark, not only to ease their suffering, but to renew their lives and calling. It was in a dark cloud that Moses heard God calling him to lead the Israelites out of bondage. Abraham met God under the night stars to inherit many nations. Barbra writes, “ if you are willing to enter the cloud of unknowing and meet God in the dark—maybe even the dark of a tomb—you might be in for a surprise!” Can we have faith to explore the dark and trust the rhythm of our spiritual journey, life, death resurrection hope? 5
We have a God who knows us by name and calls us as we seek him. The book of Isaiah says, “I will give you treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places, so you may know that it is I, the Lord who calls you by name.” No one saw the resurrection and no one believed that Christ was alive until they encountered him. But faith often precedes our understanding and doubt just attests to the mystery and power of what we proclaim. This story brings us great hope for when we encounter the empty tombs of our lives. We know by Christ’s example that darkness is not the last word. We may not be rescued but if we are able to trust God all the way into the dark, new life lay ahead. One writer put it this way, “When we say on Easter Day ‘Christ is risen’, it means this: There is no hurt on earth that can’t be healed; no wrong in life that can’t be forgiven and transformed, no brokenness that can’t give way to new life.” Alleluia Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen.
6
The Sunday of the Resurrection Easter Day April 20, 2014
Saint Luke’s Parish Darien, Connecticut 1
Alleluia Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Amen Years ago, during an early spring planting in the garden, I came across a mound in the mulch. Buried in the pile was a den of newborn bunnies, huddled together sleeping peacefully. With Mommy nowhere in sight, I worried these little babies would be carried off by the nearest predator. But instinct told me not to touch the den. Showing the discovery to my children, my son made it his duty to guard their home and check every day as to their progress. He gave each bunny a name and became quite attached. I warned him that one day they would grow up and leave their den, if we let nature take its course. Later that spring when thoughts of chocolate bunnies and Easter baskets danced around in children’s heads, we were diligent in reciting the Easter story and what it all meant. On one visit to the garden to see his beloved babies, my son ran into the house beaming, announcing, the tomb is empty! I have faith those bunnies found their way, as they were later spotted checking out my garden fare!
2
In the gospel passage this morning, we hear the account of Mary Magdalene and her discovery of the empty tomb. Mary was one of Christ’s faithful followers who stayed with Jesus to the bitter end. The death of her Lord signaled the death of hope among her people. Mary came to the tomb early that morning, while it was still dark. Her heart broken, she must have been seeking some sort of peace from the horror that had taken place. When Mary saw that the stone had been rolled away, she assumed the worst. His body had been stolen and she did not know where to find him. The emptiness unbearable, she ran to the place where the disciples hid, terrified at the events that had unfolded. When Peter and the beloved disciple ran to the tomb and saw Jesus was gone, they didn’t stay long. But Mary lingered, weeping for her Lord. Risking another look into the emptiness, she saw two angels, sitting where the body had been laid. When the man she thought to be the gardener, spoke her name, Mary knew at once it was Jesus. Easter came the moment she recognized the living Lord.
3
Since we know this story and what came after, we can assure Mary that all will be well. Something in us wants to skip to the shouts of jubilation, He is risen! But there is much to be learned by walking through this account as it happened, witnessing the fear and misunderstanding that befell those Christ followers. For them the empty tomb was just a barren grave and nothing to celebrate. Not until Jesus called Mary by name did she recognize him. Isn’t that also true for us today? How often have we had an encounter with the risen Christ without recognition? The rhythm of this ancient narrative patterns for us our own spiritual journey; life, death, resurrection, hope. Mary, confronted the dark emptiness of the tomb, and in it, she found the place of her hope and renewal in the risen Christ. Life was in the midst of death, but there is no getting around the darkness. When we experience the empty tombs of our lives we must seek Jesus as if our lives depended on it. It takes faith to wait in the dark, but Jesus will call us by name. The moment we recognize Christ in the dark, our Easter has come.
4
Author and theologian Barbra Brown Taylor’s newest book Learning to Walk in the Dark, talks about the power of walking through suffering and emptiness to find life on the other side. Sometimes it is hard to discern the light unless you are in the dark. But she speaks of a culture obsessed with happiness, where the dark evokes fear and isolation. We have many images of the dark not the least of which is the absence of God. Mary thought that was exactly what she encountered by walking into that empty tomb. This author cites many Biblical examples of where God came to people in the dark, not only to ease their suffering, but to renew their lives and calling. It was in a dark cloud that Moses heard God calling him to lead the Israelites out of bondage. Abraham met God under the night stars to inherit many nations. Barbra writes, “ if you are willing to enter the cloud of unknowing and meet God in the dark—maybe even the dark of a tomb—you might be in for a surprise!” Can we have faith to explore the dark and trust the rhythm of our spiritual journey, life, death resurrection hope? 5
We have a God who knows us by name and calls us as we seek him. The book of Isaiah says, “I will give you treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places, so you may know that it is I, the Lord who calls you by name.” No one saw the resurrection and no one believed that Christ was alive until they encountered him. But faith often precedes our understanding and doubt just attests to the mystery and power of what we proclaim. This story brings us great hope for when we encounter the empty tombs of our lives. We know by Christ’s example that darkness is not the last word. We may not be rescued but if we are able to trust God all the way into the dark, new life lay ahead. One writer put it this way, “When we say on Easter Day ‘Christ is risen’, it means this: There is no hurt on earth that can’t be healed; no wrong in life that can’t be forgiven and transformed, no brokenness that can’t give way to new life.” Alleluia Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen.
6
