Cathedral Sermons
Easter Sunday 2010
Readings: Isaiah 43: 1-21; 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11
I have three miniature rose bushes at home – one yellow, one pink and one red. They sit on my back step and far too often I forget to water them. I admire their determination to grow and to flower in difficult conditions. As I have come and gone from my house this weekend I have noticed these plants develop and change. Buds have been forming on what the plants which I had thought were about to die. My neighbours, who share my staircase and I move our pot plants around from time to time, so when I noticed a bud on one of these plants I was curious to see which colour of flower might emerge. What was a tightly closed bud on Friday, revealed the tiniest bit of redish colour yesterday. This afternoon it had become a stunning deep crimson miniature rose. Seeing the flower confirmed for me which plant was in which pot, but revealed to me a stunning transformation from bud to flower. This conformation and transformation I have observed over the weekend, is I think at the very heart of the Easter story.
At first glance it may seem a little unusual to gather in worship this Easter night without a reading from the Gospel. It is easy I think to assume that the gospels hold the key accounts of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This account from Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth is however quite possibly the earliest written record of the church on the subject of the resurrection - the heart of the Christian Gospel.
While we heard in this morning’s Eucharist celebrations of the resurrection the gospel accounts of the empty tomb, and the disciples confusion, fear and amazement, in the face of that empty tomb, this evening we have heard from the Apostle Paul’s about the second key element of the Easter event, the appearances. It is in the combined traditions of the empty tomb and the appearances of Jesus to his first disciples and in turn Christians down through the ages have come to understand Christ’s resurrection and the depth of the Holy Mystery we call Easter.
Paul writes to the church in Corinth in response to a series of questions and concerns which have arisen within the community. This particular section of his letter addresses the issue of resurrection. Some members of the church have been saying that there is no resurrection from the dead.
While present day theological debate about the resurrection has questioned the historical reality of the empty tomb and Jesus appearances’ to his disciples Paul is not remotely interested in such debate. The reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a given. In three succinct verses Paul outlines what has been referred to as the creed of the early church. The central premise of the gospel, which Paul himself received and has spent his life, since his conversion at least, sharing with others. This creed is simple and to the point. In one sentence, it highlights the essence of the events which we have as community spent the last four days celebrating: “that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raise on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas and to the twelve.”
That is all taken a read. The question from the church in Corinth relates in fact to the implications of the resurrection. Paul asks his readers… “Now, if Christ is proclaimed as raise from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection?”
He goes on to explain if there is no resurrection from the dead then Christ has not be raised and our proclamation and our faith has been in vain.” Paul argues that Christ’s resurrection and the resurrection of all people, which is promised in the new creation, are inseparable. You simply can’t have one without the other.
What then were the implications of the resurrection for the early church and what are the implications of the resurrection for us today. Both then and now resurrection, like my rose bush, offers confirmation and transformation.
Jesus is raised by God’s action. In raising Jesus from the dead, God confirmed for the early church and for us today that Jesus was who he said he was - the son of God. Jesus had told his disciples that he would die, but return. That he would come back on the third day. If he was true to his word on this account it makes his other teaching much more believable.
Jesus was radically countercultural in his own life time. His message is just as rediacally countercultural. He preached love, forgiveness and reconciliation; in a power hungry world. He proclaimed liberation for the oppressed, sight for the blind and healing for the lame. When he is raised from the grave he proclaims even more profoundly than in his life and teaching that this countercultural message, this transformed orientation of human relationships, is God’s will and God’s promise of the world to come.
Similarly in the resurection God confirms a very different verdict to that which appears on Good Friday. Jesus was condemned with violence, brutality, jealousy and hate. He responded with love, forgiveness and mercy. In raising Jesus from the dead God again confirms that this response in God’s response. In offering forgiveness, reconciliation, peace and love to the world – God demonstrates a power far greater than any government, any evil, any power or principality. God demonstrates the transformative power of love and mercy.
The scientist in my find it a little frustrating that the scriptures are not a little more explicit about the nature and exact details of God’s promised kingdom.
The young child in me delights and the wonder of the unknown and mysterious new creation which God promises.
Similarly the part of me which always struggled not to prod and poke gifts under the Christmas tree, wants to see the wonders of the new creation come to fruition now. The wiser and more accepting part of me is willing to trust that God’s is faithful to God’s promises. This part of me knows that Jesus encouraged us to be a part of bringing about the coming of the transformed. To live the love, forgiveness, reconciliation and radical inclusion he lived the preached. It knows that I have a responsibility to living kindness and justice and walking humbly with my God.
Just as the flower on my rose bush offered confirmation and revealed transformation. The resurrection of Jesus Christ confirms for us the nature of the Kingdom of God. It confirms for us God’s invitation through Jesus us to be part of a radically transformed reality in which power is given to those who have had none. A transformed reality in which love, forgiveness and mercy are the ultimate power. A transformed reality where God so loved the world and each member of it that
Is it any wonder that those who met the risen Christ were so inspired by this encounter that they would give their lives to proclaiming the wonder of the love he revealed. Is it any wonder than when we enter into the heart of the Easter mystery we inspired to be a part of the transformation Jesus represents and reveals to the world? Is it any wonder that the sigh of a rose bursting into bloom causes us to smile and feel an abiding sense of job and hope?