Reverend Ref +

EASTER VIGIL
MATTHEW 28:1-10

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Tonight we kindled the new fire, lit the Paschal candle, and moved from darkness to light. Tonight we heard the record of God's saving deeds in history; stories of creation, deliverance, salvation and a new spirit. Tonight we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Tonight, for many people, is the first Eucharist since Thursday night. Tonight, our Alleluia's ring out strong and joyful, finally released from their Lenten confinement like school children released for summer vacation.

In our heads, we know all of this to be true. We've heard the stories. We've participated in the liturgies. We have prayed and fasted and worshipped and studied long enough to know that God is God, Jesus is Savior and the Holy Spirit is our Advocate. We are pretty rational about the whole thing, really; after all, we're Episcopalians.

But we need to remember that ours is not a rational faith. Ours is a faith based on the resurrection of a man who died on a cross. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, refers to our faith and its message as foolishness. It does seem foolish, doesn't it? People talking with angels, trained soldiers so scared that they play dead, a dead man walking, and, more surprising at the time of the gospel writings and the early church but less so now, Jesus making himself known to women first. It's foolishness. And it's the basis of our faith.

Which brings me to the angel and Jesus. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb. From other stories, we know that they went to finish the burial process that they were unable to complete because of Sabbath restrictions. They were expecting to anoint the body of Jesus. They weren't expecting to see an agel or an empty tomb; but that's exactly what happened. An angel of the Lord came, removed the stone, and said, "Do not be afraid," and sends them off to tell the disciples. As they are running back to tell the disciples their story, they meet up with the risen Lord. He says the same thinig, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers."

"Do not be afraid." This phrase, or something very close to it, is usually the first thing angels say when they speak to people. There are many stories throughout all of scripture about angels appearing to people and saying, "Fear not." Why is that? It's because angels are SCARY. They descend from heaven blasing with glory like lighting, swords swirling, clothes blinding white, and they carry messages from the LIVING GOD that are meant specifically for YOU. Angels are scary dudes.

"Do not be afraid," then, is a way to relax people. The angel is saying, "Hey, I'm on your side, I'm not going to hurt you." Don't be afraid. Relax. Take it easy. You've found favor with God. I bring you good news. That phrase calms us down, and it calmed down the two Marys. Maybe.

Instead of being a phrase used to calm us down, I propose that, at this particular time, this is a phrase that is meant to excite us. It's a phrase meant to challenge us. It's a phrase meant to drive us to foolishness. "C'mon, don't be afraid! Don't chicken out!" How many times in our lives have we been driven to irrational and foolish acts by that statement? This is the context of that statement in the gospel.

So the women went "with fear and great joy." The great joy is obvious. Jesus was alive. Like seeing someone you thought you had lost in a terrible disaster, but had been found. 9/11 or the tsunami come to mind. "I thought you were dead, but you're alive!!"

But with fear? Why did they go with fear? Because there was still that rational part of their brain saying, "What will the others think? Will they think I'm foolish?" We do the same thing today. We wonder what the person in the other pew will think. We wonder what our friends will think if we "get religion." The answer to those questions is, "It doesn't matter."

The presider says, "Alleluia!! Christ is risen!!" and we respond, "the lord is risen indeed. allulia." What's with that?? We need to get over our fear. We need to quite worrying about what other people will think. We need to be foolish. We need to show some life!

Ours is a foolish faith. Jesus is alive! We need to proclaiim that always, but especially on this night. So I challenge you: Go and proclaim that Christ is alive.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Don't be afraid.