The Resurrection of the Lord~ Two Homilies: Rev. Richard Eslinger, Ph.D. St. John Chrysostom
- susan mcgurgan
- Apr 1
- 7 min read
After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, St. Matthew
tells us, Mary “Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. What had been planned as a quick trip down to Jesus’ resting place, perhaps with some time there at the tomb for the kind of sadness and sharing of memories that happen at a funeral. But what they had not anticipated, in the least, was that their itinerary had already been permanently disrupted. Instead of some quiet time of tears and memories, they entered an apocalyptic scene.
Some might call it “the End of all things Day.” An angel descends from heaven, approaches the tomb, and rolls back the stone, shattering its Roman seal. Then, in an almost humorous act, this angel sits down on the tomb stone which is now lying flat in the dirt. One commentator adds with a smile, “Angels make heavy landings.” 1
The angel’s appearance “was like lightning, and his clothing was white as snow.” Such “end time” images keep piling up. Those who had been stationed there to “guard” the tomb were completely shaken with fear and became like dead men, lying about on the ground. The power of Rome was absolutely impotent at this time and place. But what time and place is this, we ask? Whatever it was, the scene had overcome any normal human expectation. Whether an ending of sorts or The End, things could never be the same!
Now the seated angel turns to the two Marys. The message to them is
straightforward. We know it well. “Be not afraid.” The Greek shifts the angel’s
message from a kind of odd command to a comforting assurance. Our best hearing of the angel’s words is “There is nothing to fear” or “You need not fear.”
Then come the words that are at the heart of the gospel, and at the center of the universe: “He is not here, for he has been raised from the dead.” The same God who delivered the Israelites at the Sea has now acted to deliver all of humanity from death to life. The angel adds that the risen Christ is “going before you to Galilee. There you will see him.” Notice that Resurrection Day has already happened, even before Mary Magdalen and the other Mary arrived at the tomb. The world has shifted, changed in every way even before they encountered the angel sitting there on the fallen tomb stone. We may experience more modest examples of how the future surprises us in such “after-the-fact” ways.
In the story of Rip Van Winkle, this rather useless, work-avoiding colonial
man in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York falls into a deep,
alcohol-fueled sleep and wakes up twenty years later. He stumbles down to
his village—now a somewhat larger hamlet—and declares himself a loyal
subject of King George III. But he only then learns that he has slept through
the Revolutionary War and that his old ways of knowing and believing are
wildly outdated. He discovers himself in a new and rather uncertain time
and place!
At the height of the Soviet Union’s space accomplishments, a young
cosmonaut Sergei is blasted into space along with two colleagues in May of
1991. But the breakdown and collapse of the old, brutal empire has already
begun, and on Christmas Day of that year, the Soviet Union crumbles into
the ashbins of history. But Sergei is not capable of being retrieved until
March of 1992. He is called “the last citizen of the Soviet Union” and
certainly is a newcomer to a very different world. He returns to earth no
longer a citizen of the old empire. Sergei finds himself in a new time and
place.
A young mother is admitted to the hospital quite early in her pregnancy.
Something has gone wrong and a new and very early due date is announced.
But her family is also warned that the birth will be grave for both herself and
her child. Neither may survive! Yet, by way of lots of prayer, some
dedicated staff and new technology, everyone is surprised. The tiny infant is
born alive, and her mother still lives! For a family focused towards grieving
and sorrow, this new time and place are certainly a gift from God. 2
How much more, then, is the abundant mystery of God’s ways that Immanuel is
given to us before we can fully comprehend the magnitude of such a Gift. But,
with such a discovery--that the risen Christ always goes on before us—we can lay
aside our dread of past harm and guilt—and now have nothing to fear. It is a mystery at the heart of our faith. The angel proclaims that Christ is raised from the dead and that he is going on before us. This momentous event has already occurred, and we now hear the Good News. So the fear that accompanies
us on this glorious Day may be the residue of our old lives, with their losses and
defeats. Maybe that old condition stems from childhood uncertainties or even
abuses. But while the angel assures us that such fears are now defeated in the
resurrection, it may also be the case that we have some new fears, too. We are still
afraid of this new place and time to which God has brought us! It may be that we
had some continuing patterns and self-images that hardened a future for us.
But if Jesus Christ is raised from the dead and is going on before us, there may be a cracking open of those shells. We may hear the call to live more fully as a disciple of our Lord. This new future for us may be the time and place when we move away from an addiction or unhealthy dependency. And since Jesus is going on before us, we may also find ourselves saying “Yes” to the Spirit’s call for ordained or lay ministry. With the same Spirit’s leading, we may continue to accompany the newly baptized into a lifetime vocation of love and service. The angel comforts us with this trustworthy assurance: Jesus Christ is raised from the dead. We trust the new, solid ground for our lives and life together as God’s people. “Alleluia,” we sing!
The two women, Mary Magdalene new and the other Mary, respond by
beginning an Easter Sunday dash to tell the Eleven! The angel has promised a
meeting with the Lord in Galilee. It would be strange if the two Marys did not
think of those Galilean times and places when Jesus had been with them, teaching, healing, and welcoming them so fully into God’s family. Then comes an even bigger surprise. The two women of faith would not need to await some promised future in Galilee for this encounter with the risen Christ to happen. “And behold, Jesus met them on their way.” He approaches them as if he had never left to be arrested, endure suffering and to be crucified. He simply speaks an ordinary word of greeting. The Marys approach Jesus, embrace his feet, and worship him. Right here and now they respond to the incredible words they have just heard from the angel! Other acts of witness and service will come later. But for now, they draw near, all fear left behind. They kiss his feet, knowing he continues to welcome them and that his love for them is unshakable. They offer all their praise and adoration. Easter Day has come for these women!
Our time and place, good friends, is also right now. Our community of faith
is gathered this Easter. Joyfully we offer Jesus our devotion, our homage, our
praise and thanksgiving. We praise him as our Risen Lord. And in place of the act
of kissing Jesus’ feet, we are invited to “Taste and See” the Risen Christ at the
Holy Eucharist. With the whole church, we join and sing. “Christ the Lord is risen
today. Alleluia!”
Amen.
1 Greg Carey, “Resurrection of Our Lord, Working Preacher, April 9, 2023,
The Easter Sermon of St. John Chrysostom (circa 400 AD)
Are there any who are devout lovers of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!
Are there any who are grateful servants?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!
Are there any weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!
If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour,
let him with gratitude join in the Feast!
And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.
For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.
To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.
He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.
The deed He honors and the intention He commends.
Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!
First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!
You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!
Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!
Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.
He destroyed Hell when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.
Isaiah foretold this when he said,
"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."
Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.
Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hell, where is thy victory?
Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!