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Peter and the other disciple left to go to the tomb. They were running together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and was the first to arrive at the tomb...Mary Magdalene left (the tomb) and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord.”
John 20:3,4,18 CEV
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What's the purpose of observing Lent, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus without living into God’s mighty power? God is able to do exceedingly more than we could ever think or imagine.
The other day at the gym, the coach asked me, “When are you going to run again?” I responded,” Never.” I am okay with that, but it doesn't mean that I am going be complacent. I may not be able to run in The Penn Relays, or even around the corner. But I have found other ways of being a “resurrection runner”, as the preacher coined on Sunday.
We need to continue the race by picking up where the disciples stopped. We have already spent the previous forty days in Lent reflecting, reorganizing our whole lives, to strengthen our muscles. Today is the day the Lord has made! It is a new day so let’s go! Bust open the doors of the church, and spread the good news that Jesus is alive!
My prayer is that our Easter worship experience was just what we needed to provide encouragement. Once again we can hear the saints on the sidelines cheering us along. “Christ is risen indeed!” Let’s get out there, and make a difference in someone’s life. Jesus rose from the dead! Jesus is alive forever more! Let us readjust our hearts and minds to God’s prompting.
Henri Nouwen wrote, “The dance of life finds its beginning in grief… Here a completely new way of living is revealed. It is the way in which pain can be embraced, not out of a desire to suffer, but in the knowledge that something new will be.” Instead of running away from our fears, we can navigate through our broken hearts, trust God and learn to be in relationship with all of God’s children. Our time in worship is what prepares us to put on those 1980’s Carl Lewis running short and run.
I believe God still makes all things new; keep praying and discerning for that new ministry to emerge. Identify those who are in need and create space for them. Develop new meaningful ways of connecting the church with the community.
Because Jesus lives we can face tomorrow. Because Jesus lives all fear is gone. Because I know who holds the future. And life is worth the living just because Jesus lives.
May this season of Eastertide be filled with new life!
In Faith,
Denise Smartt Sears
Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Dance of Life:
Weaving Sorrows and Blessings into One Joyful Step, ed. Michael Ford
(Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 2005).
