Easter is the biggest door opening of all.
The stone is rolled away.
The gates of hell are smashed.
The love of the Father is declared.
The children of God are called forth.
The reign of death is broken.
And Jesus Christ stands in the middle of it all—
not weak,
not wistful,
not half-alive—
but radiant, scarred, glorious, and utterly victorious.
So what do we do?
We do what Mary did. We go and tell.
We do what Peter did. We bear witness.
We do what the Church is always meant to do. We live as resurrection people.
Which means:
We refuse the smallness of fear.
We refuse the boredom of cynicism.
We refuse the lie that nothing can change.
We refuse the lie that death is the deepest truth.
Instead, we love boldly.
We repent honestly.
We pray expectantly.
We serve generously.
We welcome widely.
And we live as those who know that the deepest and most powerful force in the universe is not darkness, but love.
So Easter is not “try harder.”
It is not “be more religious.”
It is not “keep positive.”
Easter is this:
Christ is risen.
Death is defeated.
Hell is broken open.
Life has the final word.
And so the Church must not offer the world a thin Christianity.
Not now.
Not here.
Not in Vancouver.
Not when people are starved for beauty, holiness, mystery, reverence, and something worth giving their lives to.
On Good Friday they came to the cross in reverence.
Today we come to the empty tomb in joy.
And both tell the truth.
The one we adore is the one who was crucified.
The one who was crucified is the one who is risen.
The one who is risen is the one who is Lord of all.
So whether you are here every week,
or here for the first time in a long time,
hear the gospel plainly:
Christ is risen for you.
Christ has conquered for you.
Christ’s victory is bigger than your fear.
And his life is stronger than your death.
Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us,
that we should be called the children of God.
Children of the God who raised Jesus.
Children of the God who shattered hell.
Children of the God whose last word is not death, but life.
Χριστὸς ἀνέστη!
Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Amen.
