Easter Day (Year A), March 27, 2005

BCP: Acts 10:34-43 or Exodus 14:10-14,21-25;15:20-21; Psalm 118:14-29 or 118:14-17, 22-24; Col. 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-10(11-18) or Matt. 28:1-10

RCL: Acts 10:34-43 or Jer. 31:1-6; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Col. 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 or Matt. 28:1-10

From the time of the finding of an empty tomb outside of Jerusalem, people have been trying to make rational sense of it. An early and extremely logical explanation is that the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth, containing spices and a costly shroud, was looted by grave robbers, who had to take the corpse along with them in their haste. Later, the theory arose that Jesus only appeared to die — sort of like someone today might stage his or her death to cancel personal responsibilities or to collect on an insurance policy. The motivation of Jesus, by this thinking, was to found a new religion of which he would be totally in charge — a sort of prior-day Joseph Smith. And even today, New-Agers are fond of claiming that Jesus was merely a “divine idea,” and that therefore his death and resurrection was simply a hoax put forward by wrong-thinking followers.

Explaining away a body-less grave can have no impact whatsoever on the faith of Christians in our resurrected Savior. Mary Magdalene finds the tomb empty, and she comes up with her own explanation: “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him” (John 20:13b). It is only when she recognizes that the risen Lord is with her that faith takes hold. Other disciples are merely frightened by a vacant grave. For them as well, it is personal encounters with the risen Savior which convinces them of the truth of the resurrection.

Peter points out the most indisputable proof of the resurrection for the earliest Christians: The risen Lord personally shares food and drink with those whom he calls to the kingdom (Acts 11:41). And so it is for us today. We can be certain that the Lord is risen because we personally encounter him in every celebration of the Eucharist. No explaining away of the empty tomb can change that in the least.

“I have seen the Lord,” Mary Magdalene shouts with joy (John 20:18). “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it... Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him” (Luke 24:30-31).

Look It Up

What was the pattern of Christian worship in the early Church? (Acts 2:40-41) How does this relate to what we do today?

Think About It

The prayer book (p. 13) states that “The Holy Eucharist [is] the principal act of Christian worship on the Lord’s Day...” Why is this?

Next Sunday

Second Sunday of Easter (Year A), April 3, 2005

BCP: Acts 2:14a, 22-32 or Gen. 8:6-16; 9:8-16; Psalm 111 or 118:19-24; 1 Pet. 1:3-9 or Acts 2:14a, 22-32; John 20:19-31

RCL: Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Psalm 16; 1 Pet. 1:3-9; John 20:19-31