EASTER MORNING
2014
These three days are a great time for reflection, and naturally enough reflection on the meaning of the resurrection. I have reflected on the time I led a group of pilgrims to Jerusalem. We visited 2 sites that claim to be the “tomb” where Jesus was laid. The first was within the Church of the Holy Sepulcher; it is within the same building that al so encloses the site of Jesus’ crucifixion. Close by Jesus’ tomb are other tombs - it was certainly a place where the dead were laid. Then outside the current “old City Walls” there is a place called the “garden tomb”, it is not far from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. It is a beautiful spot; the site has clear evidence that there was a garden, wine press and so on dating back to Jesus’ day. It is a place of deep tranquility in a chaotic and at times violent city. Which is the correct spot? It could be either; it could be an as yet undiscovered tomb. It doesn’t really matter; it doesn’t affect the story we are following. If it is either of these two places, my heart tells me it is the tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher: why? The other is just too nice. Jesus at his birth was born in a stable, his family had to flee to Egypt, his ministry was constantly under attack from the religious authorities, his life was always under threat. Such pure love attracted the attention of all that is wrong with human life, and today we sti ll see that our religion is still capable of bringing out the worst in people. And in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher we see the divisions of Christianity brought out in petty jealousies over territory – jealousies that often break out into violence. I think Jesus’ tomb would be there, rather than in a tranquil garden, there, amongst all the bad behaviour of humans, there, as a sign of judgement, there, to call us into the light and truth of the resurrection, first witnessed when the women came to the tomb early on the third day to anoint the body of Jesus’. Over the years I have ministered to good and faithful parishioners who have suffered some terrible terminal illnesses. Each of them were powerful witnesses to the reality of the resurrection of Jesus’ and the gift of eternal life that we are given through our faith in hi m. A number of those deaths were as a result of cancers that gave the patients and their carers a rough time: the outstanding feature in each case was the calm and peace with which each person died. They knew to whom they belonged and they had a rich and clear sense of where they were going John 14:2-4 (NRSV) 2 In
my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.”
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