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“Easter, Interrupted”

But the angel said to the women, "Don't be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He isn't here, because he's been raised from the dead, just as he said. Come, see the place where they laid him. 7 Now hurry, go and tell his disciples, 'He's been raised from the dead. He's going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.' I've given the message to you." (Matthew 28:5-7 CEB)

                This Easter was a really strange one.  It was interrupted in two ways.  In Southeast Minnesota, we got about six inches of snow, the heavy slushy type.  Travel would have been difficult.  This was my picture of the deck on Easter.  This was not your typical sunny, chocolate bunny, jelly beans, lily-filled holiday.
But there was also a bigger, far more serious interruption.  This year it took place during the Covid-19 pandemic.  It was unusual in that we could not get together for worship due to the “Stay-at-Home” order.  We missed that.  But beyond that, folks are justifiably worried, about heath, about livelihoods, about loved ones, about how things will continue on.  This was not the joyous gathering, “Jesus Christ is Risen Today”, trumpets blaring holy day.  These concerns go far beyond this one day.
The Gospel reading is about some of the women who followed Jesus during his earthly ministry.  They went to the tomb where Jesus had been laid after his death.  But their plan was interrupted by the earth shaking and an angel telling them this amazing good news.  They were looking for Jesus in the tomb, but he is not there.  Their mourning was cut short.  Jesus’ life, it seemed, was interrupted by his death on the cross.  But the Easter message is that this is not a haphazard or aimless event; is part of God’s plan.
The meaning of Easter is, that it is death itself that has been interrupted, and the chance for eternal life, a life beyond this one is present in Jesus.  Because of this, whatever is going on in our world, we know that a place exists in which there is no mourning, or tears, or pain, and death will be no more.  We place our hope in the one who lived and died and is now risen.

Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son;
Endless is the victory thou o’er death has won.

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