It's Easter Monday, the Lenten fasts are over, the Christ candle has been lit, the tomb was found empty, and the Alleluias have been sung! What comes next? Is Easter over?
To help me think about that I would like to ponder the statement made to the women in the tomb, by the two young men in dazzling clothes:
The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. (Luke 24:5)
He is not here, but has risen! Jesus has risen, and the disciples and other followers will see Jesus multiple times over the next few weeks. In our worship, throughout the Easter season, we will hear the witness of these disciples as they give testimony to having seen the risen Christ.
Christ is risen! Is that a once and done event, or does it have last implications? Because Jesus rose from the dead, evil and death do not have the last word. Jesus triumphed over both death and the leaders (religious and political) who sought to end his influence by murdering him. Jesus's resurrection is a triumph. But what does it mean for us?
St. Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, that because we have been baptized into Jesus' death, we have also been baptized into his resurrection. Jesus' triumph over death means that for us, too, death will not have the last word.
Alleluia, Christ has been raised and we, too, will be raised. Alleluia, indeed!
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