Leave our former selves in the tomb [Easter Sunday reflection]

Listen to this reflection

He has risen! Hallelujah, hallelujah!

Well brothers and sisters, it’s a great joy and a great privilege to be able to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus with you this day.

I was struck by the Resurrection account in Luke’s Gospel, where the women who were following Jesus go to the tomb carrying spices to anoint His body. When they encounter the empty the tomb, they see these two men wearing dazzling white garments. The two men ask them the question, “Why are you searching for the living among the dead?” 

I think it asks the question in us, how often do we give things up in our lives for the sake of the Lord - whatever it might be, the sacrifices that we make for the sake of Christ, let alone the sins we’ve given up in our lives - how often do we still dwell on them in our hearts?

In essence we’re taking spices to anoint those parts of our hearts. To keep alive in our memory, to draw more and more pleasure out of them.

But this is the day brothers and sisters that calls us to leave our former selves in the tomb. To depart from the tomb. To look for the Lord Jesus in our lives as we live them here and now. And when we encounter Him, we are actually strengthened because we see that He truly is alive. That He truly is active in our lives and in our hearts, and that He is so present to us. 

And so, this is the day of thanksgiving. This is the day of rejoicing in the Lord. This is the day of great rest for ourselves. Because He has rolled back the stone for us. He has unlocked the Father’s house for us. So, brothers and sisters, let us run out of the tomb with the new life in Christ. Let us run into the Father’s house. Let us run towards the Father’s open arms and rest secure in His loving embrace.

Amen. Hallelujah.