Again and Again
Text: Mark 16:1-8
It was Easter Sunday morning when the household of the two ministers was getting filled with excitement and anticipation. I woke up our son, Peace, 9 years old at that time. “Wake up, Peace. Jesus is risen.” Peace was half asleep and half awake, and said in a tone of surprise, “What? He did that AGAIN?”
When children take seriously what we adults often take for granted, we receive a gift – a gift of a new perspective. It can lead us to discover what we might have missed along the way. And that alone can change everything. That Sunday morning was the beginning of how I have come to understand Easter in a new way.
I remember well the tone of his voice. “What? He did that AGAIN?” He couldn’t believe what he just heard. Surprise, astonishment, and disbelief are common responses to any good news. It’s not good news if we are expecting to hear it. It can only be good news when we never knew it was on its way to come to us. It’s not good news if it’s something we could make it happen. It can only be good news when the event happened outside our power, control, or abilities. Good news is something we can only receive. What comes after receiving good news is our choice of participating in it. Good news requires our involvement. It becomes OUR good news when we embrace it, celebrate it, and take part in it.
I see the same patterns in the resurrection story we heard today. Mary Magdalene, Salome, and Mary the mother of James bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus. They never expected to see the empty tomb. In fact, they started worrying about the entrance to the tomb as it was blocked by the stone. The first thing they noticed upon arriving at the tomb was that the stone was removed. Something happened outside of their circle, beyond their power and capabilities. Entering the tomb, they saw an angel, who said, Jesus was not there. They were then commissioned by the angel to tell the disciples that Jesus is going ahead of them to Galilee; there they will see him. And then we see the most realistic and down-to-earth response to the resurrection of Jesus. The three women went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
This is the closing line of the Jesus’ resurrection story in Mark’s Gospel, as well as the shorter ending of the entire gospel according to Mark. The longer ending was added later, which includes how the risen Christ appeared to Mary Magdalen, and the two disciples on their way. Perhaps, the community of Mark felt the need to complete what seemed to be the unfinished story. They even added how frustrated the risen Christ was for the lack of faith and stubbornness among the male disciples. For those who still didn’t get it, it was necessary to include a more powerful and compelling story of how the risen Christ appeared over and over again, and commissioned the disciples to proclaim the good news.
But I’d prefer Mark’s original ending. I know it’s an unpopular one. There is no dramatic encounter like Mary Magdalene in the garden in John’s Gospel. There is no heartfelt turning point like what happened to the two disciples on the way in Luke’s Gospel. Mark’s way of telling the resurrection of Jesus is full of raw emotions. Most importantly, they never saw the risen Christ. The implication is that the resurrection story is not so much about what happened to Jesus as what happened to the disciples and their community. In other words, resurrection is not so much about believing as experiencing and participating in it. Still the question remains: how to participate in the resurrection in the midst of fear and confusion.
Every morning after waking up around 6 am, I go for a walk. It has become a new habit that I can’t miss. In fact, I am taking this morning ritual seriously. It’s like walking meditation. Taking one step at a time, I do mindful breathing. I pay attention to everything I see. I know I belong there because I know I am loved and accepted as I am without the fear of judgement. I join the community of the forest in waking up to a new day and in welcoming each other in this spaciousness of God. Over the last few weeks, I particularly enjoyed the spring in the forest. It’s everywhere, in the air, in the sound of the birds, in returning of the geese, and in the warmth of the sun. This small piece of land is a living reminder of the whole creation. It’s very much alive and breathing with me. I have seen how slowly but surely this community of forest participates in the resurrection. For me, resurrection is the irresistible force that is deeply embedded in creation. The question is whether we are willing to participate in the resurrection that happens everywhere and all the time. And the best way to participate is by surrendering our wills, our egos to God’s unconditional love and amazing grace.
The blowing snow last Tuesday didn’t stop me from keeping the morning routine. It was – 19 C with wind chill. The unexpected weather changed the scenery dramatically: spring yesterday, but winter today. There was not much movement in the forest – only the strong wind was blowing through the entire wild community of Bois-des-espirit Park. And I noticed the geese. Two by two, they found a spot where they could sit still. Not one goose dared to move or to flap their wings. At first, I was impressed with their calming presence. How could they remain calm and peaceful when the world around them was swirling gales? Looking more closely, I noticed their struggles. They gave their best to stay where they were, preserving their strength until they could safely move and fly. I realized that this very moment of struggle was part of their resurrection process – not just nesting and breeding for regeneration but waiting and pausing for preserving their energy.
We are like the geese waiting for the day when we will be able to hug each other safely, and to sing together our favorite hymns like never before. The pandemic has been hard for many of us. Who knew that we were going to have the Easter service online AGAIN? But we also have seen how resilient we are. Others have seen it in us, and we have seen it in others. God continues to work with and through us, though we don’t always notice it. Each one of us deserve a celebration. Even if it doesn’t feel like Easter yet, we can be assured that this very moment we are in – this time of waiting, pausing, stopping is part of the long process of our resurrection. We are all participating in it again and again.