We are a Resurrection People

[Easter Homily shared by Christina at The Gathering’s sunrise service]

“I’m so glad to be gathered with all of you this morning.

There’s so much that’s really special about this village we all call home, and celebrating Christ’s resurrection among forged family is exactly where I want to be this Easter morning.

Afterall, the folks I call friends here have taught me so much about resurrection.

Whether you were brought up in the church, attending weekly as a child, or decided to explore faith as an adult, I’m guessing that something about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus brought you here this morning (and maybe the promise of good food).

Those of us gathered here this morning come from a variety of Christian traditions and even some differences in particular beliefs, yet we unite around the beautiful, sacrificial love of Jesus the author and perfector of our faith.

Jesus’ life leading up to the cross is worth emulating. His radical inclusion of those who were seen as outcasts. His pursuit of truth and justice. His reliance on the Father for his strength. His immense love for his friends and his willingness to challenge the religious elite who were somehow missing the point.

Jesus’ death is worth reflecting on. His willingness to suffer. His submission to God’s will. His radical forgiveness, right in the moment, of those who were putting him to death. His acceptance and inclusion of the thieves who hung there beside him in his final hours.

After a life well-lived and a death he didn’t deserve, it’s hard to imagine how devastated his disciples must have been. How confused they were. How hopeless they must have felt.

But then…

Jesus continues to show us the intensity of God’s love for all of us with a hope-filled resurrection. Defying death and conquering sin, he makes a subtle entrance back into the world and reveals himself to those he loved most. A mix of fear and joy filled those women who were the first to see him, yet they believed and shared the incredible, world-changing, good news.

Jesus, the one they loved, had followed, had placed their hope in - had died and all seemed to be lost. But now he had risen and that truth was worth celebrating. It was worth sharing. It was worth giving their lives for.

Hope was restored. Graves into gardens. Mourning to dancing.

Community First, I know many of the stories in this room and we are a resurrection people.

We mess it up. We turn away. We walk down roads of death and destruction. We look out for only ourselves and neglect our neighbors. We experience pain, betrayal, oppression, and suffering that sometimes don’t seem to end. The truth is, we live in a really messy world full of really messy people and I’m so thankful for a God that sent Jesus to set things right. To remind us of the never-ending, never-giving up, always and forever love of God. A God that went to a cross to have the final say. A God who reminds us that “in this world we will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.”

We are a resurrection people. So let’s celebrate together.”