Today’s Easter gospel includes mansplaining the resurrection. Mary Magdalene, Joana, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them tell the men that Jesus’ body is not in the tomb. And how do the men respond? Peter suggests the women are simply telling an “idle tale.” Peter, the same disciple who denied Jesus three times, just a little earlier, thinks he knows better. The women did all the work for the group project, but this man is remembered among the twelve apostles. He goes and sees for himself, repeats the same words the women already said, and he gets the credit. Jesus even gave Peter a nickname, “The Rock.” This cemented his lead in the Fast and Furious franchise in Ancient times.
After giving credit to the women for discovering the empty tomb first, it leaves us to ponder the mystery of the empty tomb. There is a predictability with death that tombs once sealed do not suddenly become empty. In fact the account of the resurrection was so unnatural that in the 19th century there was a movement of Biblical scholars who sought to revise the text to be congruent with science. Thomas Jefferson, statesmen, scholar, and Third US President, put out an edition of his own Bible in which he takes a Sharpie to all the verses in the New Testament that don’t make sense according to natural laws. There are also other plausible explanations that someone came and took Jesus’ body away while no one was looking. This is in fact what the women in the gospel first think. We start with a rational conclusion. It’s only after the angel asks, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” This shift in frame is world-shattering. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?”
I ask this question of myself when I’m doomscrolling on my phone. Checking the latest update on tariffs. I wonder if those poor penguins have slapped on counter tariffs for their fish exports. When we read that migrants without due process are shipped off to a super max prison in El Salvador, with taunting assurances that these people are never coming home. They will never receive their day in court, since in fact they haven’t been charged with any crime. In fact their situation is a modern day Good Friday story.
The Easter resurrection story is also for them. And it’s for us. To remember that for God all things are possible. While we hope and yearn for that story from Acts in which the prison rumbles and shakes, those unjustly imprisoned walking free, and the guard left quaking in fear of the work of the Lord. The empty tomb is reassurance that death does not defeat God. Jesus dies but the story is not over. Death doesn’t hold Jesus down. Human violence and injustice put Jesus to death but do not keep him bound. God’s love is greater. The Easter story is one we all need to hear today. That the Pilates and tyrants of the day will not win in the end. Their reign will eventually end. The possibility for love and justice is real. The promise of Easter resurrection gives us confidence today.
No matter where we find ourselves today amidst the rubble of this world, God’s love is bigger. God cares for each one of us. No matter whether we have lost hope, or if we’re tired, or if we’re sick, or if we’re mourning the death of a loved one, or we’re struggling with the world in whatever way. That’s God love is bigger and is unconditional.
Someone shared a post on social media the other day of a bad theology. It’s a card you hand to strangers. On one side the card reads, “GOD LOVES YOU!” On the other side of the card it begins, “But…” It really doesn’t matter what follows after the “But.” We know they’ve missed the whole point of the gospel, the Easter story straight off. God’s resurrects Jesus from the dead, and includes us in that life, without condition. There is no room for a conditional in unconditional love. That’s one reason why a lot of people struggle with church today. Decades of bad theology like this has made people sceptical, even mistrustful of churches. We want to set the record straight. There is no cloak and dagger with the Easter gospel we are proclaiming. The gift of unconditional love inspires us to do likewise and share that love with others, but the gift is never conditional.
On a different note, last night we celebrated the Easter Vigil last night, with Easter fire, stories of liberation, gathering around the font with Baptismal renewal with Marc, Easter gospel, gathering around the table, and s’mores. Last night in our neighbourhood there was also a professional wrestling match which I wish I could also have attended. One of these days the timing will work out. But imagine a crossover between the Easter gospel and professional wrestling. It is the dramatic storytelling of our day. It’s on Netflix, so you know people are watching it. In one corner would be Pontius Pilate, cold, self-interested. In the other corner, Jesus of Nazareth, the hometown boy who everyone turns on. The crowd boos Jesus. —>
An indifferent Pilate asks the riled up crowd what he should do with Jesus and they respond, “Kill him!” As the baddie he tells the crowd to kill him themselves. And that only makes them more mad. And so Pilate gets up on the ropes in the corner and body slams Jesus on the mats. Jesus taps out for the full count. The lights fade and Pilate is celebrating, while Jesus’ body is on the mat, lifeless. You think the match is over. But as Pilate makes his victory lap around the ring, Jesus’ body disappears. Moments later a janitor is wandering down an aisle sweeping up popcorn and empty cans of Rockstar. No one notices in the audience, at least not at first. But some women notice Jesus is missing in the ring. They try to tell others, but no one will listen. And then eventually the lights come on and others start to notice as well, that Jesus has disappeared. And then the camera cuts to Jesus the janitor, who gives a knowing wink to the audience. End scene. If any of you know professional wrestlers, put me in touch with them.
Wrapping up, the good news of Easter Sunday is for you. God loves you so much death can’t separate you from the love of God. Wherever you find yourself today, know you’re on a faith journey. Even if you wouldn’t describe it as a faith journey. We’re all stumbling through life together. It’s good to know God has got our back. And together we we’ve got each other’s backs as well. Amen.
