Colourful Dreamer

This sermon can be listened to here Gate Pa – Easter Sunday - Year C Readings: First Reading:                         Acts 10:34-43                                                   Second Reading:        1 Corinthians 15:19-26 Gospel:                        John 20:1-18    What I want to say: Easter is not so much about getting into heaven as it is an affirmation by God of all Jesus said and did; is a statement of God’s utter and profound commitment to this world and all who live in it; and an invitation to live in anticipation of completion of that. Easter is not the end of the story in John, it is one step – life and ministry of Jesus; denial and betrayal, crucifixion, resurrection and appearance to Mary, ascension and return, resurrection appearance to other disciples, giving of Spirit to those disciples… the story goes on. So what next for us? What I want to happen: what difference does this Easter make for us in our good Friday moments? what differenc

We begin in the dark gloom of death. All that gave meaning and joy declared meaningless leaving despair and confusion Then in the cold morn stood the Christ risen not to fix or make right that bloody death so that those old ways of living can go on. This is God’s affirmation God’s yes to the way of love. Resurrection is not just for later Now we are invited into the death of our habits that deny our ways of seeing that blind our images of God that separate. We are invited into Christ’s revolution of compassion and generosity God’s uprising of humble love. What then is our next step?

Passover – a rumbling festival pregnant with ancient memories and hopes of release from Empire and freedom from slavery and poverty. This is not the biggest, but it is one of the most turbulent. Into this expectant mass come two parades trumpeting peace. From the west Pilate leads his legions astride his war stallion, stomping in through the wealthy part of town, warmly welcomed for the prosperity and peace he represents. A peace built on Pax Romana – the way of violence, fear, submission, and enslavement. The peace of empire. To the east a small ragtag group surround a rabbi on a donkey riding down the Mount of Olives. His disciples lay their prized cloaks before him, dangerously and defiantly hailing him a king. They sing and dance through the tents of the poor and landless pitched across the Kidron. They are reminded of Zechariah and Isaiah. He is God’s peace – the way of compassion, generosity, hospitality, and justice. The peace of God. In our troubled days, as we mourn