Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia

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On the first day, of the first week, following the first full moon, after the first equinox of the year, People of God recount the Resurrection on Jesus. There’s a whole lot of firsts in this formula. One of my favourite firsts, happens, when the crocuses sprout up through the cool and wind, on our land. So beautiful, delicate, and friends they too have arrived.

    

Blood spilled in Jesus’ chilling death on a cross, is collected and transfused into the veins God’s people. We must admit though, there are many tense moments, when this outcome appears less than certain. After-all, nothing of a Roman crucifixion scene looks very hopeful.

        

I suppose followers at several stages, may have surmised, their faith had been misplaced. Perhaps some discussed a return to fishing, and to a no doubt, much quieter lifestyle.  Who could blame them, after the three-year roller coaster ride, they had just experienced. Some may have felt embarrassed or even frightened. Worried maybe, Jesus was just the first, on a hit list that included them. And oh how intuitive that fear would prove to be? Yes, for so many returning home after a weekend in the city! It had all looked so promising.

The miracles, healing, and teaching all pointed to Jesus, as being the Holy One of God. And then Mary of Magdala, is first to hear the alarm ring out, from an empty tomb. The stone is rolled away, not so much to let Jesus out, but rather more, to allow humankind to enter. We too must attend to the cross and we must attend to the tomb. But Mary is compelled to let Peter and the others know. She doesn’t really find Jesus, as much as Jesus finds her. You see, she is looking for a deceased man over which to perform Jewish burial rituals. Jesus in contrast seeks out the broken, upon which he might bestow eternal life.

 

Later in that day, on the way to Emmaus, two disciples run into the only fellow who doesn’t seem to know what just happened. In a playful way, the stranger tells them more about their faith, than they had ever known. But it’s only in the breaking of Bread, will Cleopas and friends come to recognize Our Lord.

 

Both Mary’s and Cleopas’s responses are quite understandable as we will find, only as much as our heart has capacity to believe. None-the-less, essential to every Christian Easter response is that we too announce the living Christ to all those we encounter. Early followers of Jesus, thankfully had just enough courage, to tell the right people.  And with that, the despair of Good Friday is turned into the joy of Resurrection.

They and we are once again raised a high by God’s faithfulness, even when at times, our own may have waivered.

 

     Such glorious news spreads, like a prairie grass fire, causing so very many to run looking for the Risen Christ. Perhaps all people really need to do, is stop running and allow Jesus to catch us. Even today, with all the fantastic communication technology at our fingertips, we could well wonder, is there anyone left to tell. But maybe even more importantly we should ask ourselves, who is telling our story. Are others telling the world our story?  Folks we can’t tell what we don’t know and that’s why we must strive to understand the scriptures and the Church’s true teaching.

 

 A glance about our communities makes crystal clear, if the message has been heard, it hasn’t always made the trek from ears to hearts. Our newspapers, television and web casts, report ongoing wars, civil unrest, environmental doom and economic woes, constantly from around the globe and even here on the Piikani Nation.  If we believe these reports, there are today, just as many who hunger and thirst for God, as there has ever been. And, Yes friends, responsibility to acclaim, the Risen Christ falls joyfully, now upon our shoulders. 

   

     Like the early Church springing to life in its morning, we too have a role, to more than acknowledge this announcement. Brothers and Sisters, we must participate in a Living Gospel by resurrecting Christ’s into our world. By exercising our responsibilities in the community like Mary! By running to Jesus like Peter, John and others! And by breaking bread together like Cleopas and Our Lord!

 

       And so, we begin this Easter season joyfully experiencing the Living God through an ever-deepening awareness of Christ Risen.  Joined to those first disciples, who with courage announced to the world the resurrection of Our Lord and Master! Let us on the Piikani First Nations be a new people of life, rejoicing as give glory to our Great Creator, who promises eternal life!

 

Amen

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