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AT THE END, A NEW BEGINNING
When the
Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James,
and Salome brought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.
And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had
risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one
another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance
to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone,
which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they
entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe,
sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. But he 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. But go, tell his disciples and
Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will
see him, just as he told you.” So they went out and fled from
the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they
said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Our Lenten journey through the parables
over the last six weeks has been loaded with many reminders and
surprises. Jesus has shared images of wandering sons who receive
a welcome-home pardon, a woman who pulls her house apart looking
for a lost coin, and advice about wise and foolish places to
build our spiritual homes. Sheep and goats have been separated,
leaven has been put in the dough, and a skilled potter has
worked the clay.
Each of these parables has used allegory to
teach some truth. These everyday images, merged with writings
from Reformation members and friends, have helped us think about
God at work in our lives and in the world in new ways. I hope
you have been reminded of God’s unfailing love that works
through our sinfulness in beautiful and mysterious ways.
And now, here at the end of our Lenten
journey, we get the biggest zinger of them all – “[Jesus] has
been raised. He is not here.” Salome, Mary Magdalene and the
other Mary come to the tomb expecting one thing and are
astonished when they find something other:
At the end, there is a beginning.
From death, comes new life.
In the darkness of the tomb, there is a
Light that cannot be extinguished.
Like these faithful women, our encounters
with God often leave us seized with terror and amazement. We
don’t know how to respond to such enduring promises and a love
that is stronger than death. That’s all right. Jesus goes ahead
of us, waiting to meet us in all the places life – and death –
will take us. He is ready to lead us into new life.
He is risen! He is risen, indeed!
Living God, by the resurrection of your
Son free us from our fears, restore us in your image and ignite
us with your light so that we may be your witnesses in the
world. Amen
The Rev. Lowell Michelson
Senior Pastor
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