By Rich Burstall
Many people believe this is the perfect day to celebrate Easter, after all we are fools for believing in a resurrection anyways. And to some extent that is correct. We are fools, the entire story makes no sense. Jesus, God, died and then three days later is raised from the dead?!?! Doesn’t seem real, doesn’t seem that this is logically possible.
Those of us that believe in the Easter Story, find our hope here, at the empty tomb. A place where God’ greatest miracle happened. Jesus defeated death. Which means that our mortal death is not the end, but just the beginning of our life with God. Like the criminal who was crucified with Jesus, we will join him in Paradise.
Those of you that might know me, understand that I am not a big proponent of the ‘getting to heaven’ theology that is so rampant in our society. I believe that the empty tomb gives us the hope to go out into this world and offer that hope to others. To offer love instead of hate, peace instead of fighting, grace instead of grudges.
When I reflect on the resurrection, I see a directive. That directive is focused, not on me, but others. It becomes communal rather than personal. Jesus did not die just for those of us who attend a church, Jesus was not raised from the dead just for me. These acts are for all people and if I just sit and do nothing, I feel I am selling God short of power of this day.
On this Day of Resurrection, I am a fool. I am a fool to believe that God continues to work in the world. I’m a fool to believe that my call is to go out into the world and spread the hope, love, and peace that God offers us. I’m a fool to believe that life is more than me. I am a fool and I am proud of that fact.
Are you a fool?
I encourage you to find a local church in your area, join their celebration of what God has been doing in this world. Find a place where love is offered to all people. This is what the hope of this day is about.
