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“Woman, Why Are You Weeping?” Sherry Lohman - Easter, April 4, 2010 John 20:1-18 Again, that was from the Gospel of John. Had you been at our sunrise service, you would have heard the Easter story told by the author of Mathew’s gospel, which describes Mary Magdalene and another Mary who visit the tomb. In that story, an angel of the Lord suddenly appears as lightening, his clothing white as snow. He has rolled back the stone and proceeds to tell them that Jesus is no longer there; the tomb is empty, Jesus has risen. As they run to tell the disciples, they meet Jesus, face to face. Mark’s gospel names three women, Mary Magdalene, the mother of James and Salome, who visit the tomb and find not Jesus, but a young man dressed in white. Later, Mary Magdalene will be the first to lay her eyes upon Jesus.// Luke’s gospel. It is Mary Magdalene, Joanna, the mother of James along with other women who approach the tomb. They discover two men in dazzling clothes in the place where they expected to find Jesus’ body. Aside from the linen clothes, the tomb is empty. // These are the Easter stories that we keep alive. Death comes to Jesus. It is a horrific death, full of pain and suffering; he is condemned to the cross by humans; people who took matters into their own hands and put Jesus away, this time, they thought, for good. Each of the stories describe variations on the same theme. Jesus is crucified, women returned to the tomb where he had been laid, expecting to find him there, most likely to pay their respects. Some of the women had brought spices to anoint Jesus. Instead, something happens, and they find the tomb empty, or some angelic like persons there who inform them that Jesus has risen. Clearly, this is not what they were expecting. And soon, in each gospel, we learn that not just one, but many people report sightings of Jesus, or encounter him, face to face, as in our reading, today. Because the stories are all a little different, we may wonder just exactly how to understand the Easter story. How do we deal with the discrepancies. Maybe you don’t give them much thought. Or maybe you take a little from each story and combine it into a single story. There’s no doubt about the crucifixion; that happened, and it was more brutal than we can imagine, (even with Mel Gibson’s help). It’s the stories of the tomb and the sightings of Jesus that raise questions. How is it that you think about resurrection? If Jesus was raised from the dead, where did he go? Heaven. And where is that? Up? In the clouds? We would probably all agree that wherever it is, it is with God. For some of you, the story does not matter. But others struggle to reconcile it with their 21st century world view. If you are of those who have struggled or who are uneasy about it, you are not alone. You need not question your faith in God because you can’t make sense of the story. Things don’t add up. But there is something deeper—something more going on that can’t simply be set aside under a category of “mystery.” Anthropologists have defined a number of altered states of consciousness across cultures. Think about it—we dream, we daydream, we meditate, we can be in a state of stupor, coma, drowsiness, trance-like, lethargic, rapture, hysteria, hyper alert---those are what we might think of as, “altered states of consciousness,” and they can be just as real as what we call our normal state. And believe it or not, different cultures perceive reality in different ways than we do./ Still, our culture doesn’t lend much credibility to visions, trances or experiences of alternate realities. We may be curious about the nonrational dimensions of human existence, but we don’t seriously give it much attention. We may even be afraid to talk about some of the experiences we have had. But did you know that for most of the world, reports of alternative states of awareness is considered quite normal. We are not the center of the universe, nor is our way of experiencing the world the only way. Indeed, in some respects we have a very impoverished awareness of our world, and ourselves, physically and spiritually. But why do anthropologists believe that we in the secular West have blocked our access to these other altered states of consciousness? It started back in the 17th century with the advent of modern science and its emphasis on a more factual, objective view of the world. Over time, we developed the ability to dissociate ourselves not only from the world, but also from our own experience of the world. We developed what some call a metaself, or a critical observer who monitors and comments on experience. The metaself doesn’t allow the sort of total absorption in lived experience that is the very essence of highly focused alternate states of consciousness. In other words, we stand in the way of our own unreflected, unmediated experience of the world. We are out of touch, literally and figuratively. Isn’t it ironic how we believe that we have progressed over the last couple of centuries, when in fact, we may have regressed, or exchanged a deeper awareness for modern technology with all its bells and whistles. We have become a people, frantically, running around without purpose, out of touch with who God wants us to be….Spirit lead. Mindfull. Spirit filled. Anyone who has practiced mindful meditation has most likely experienced this altered state that I’m talking about. But perhaps we recognize it most in children, who live in the moment, completely focused on the present. They do not think much about the past nor the future. You see how that is, in a very real sense, an altered view of consciousness, and how, as we grow older, we move out of that—in many ways, we are forced to move out of it, but I don’t think we have to completely abandon it. In the centuries before and after these gospel stories were written, it was not uncommon for people to report personal visions or appearances of celestial beings like those described in our gospels. However, these experiences must be interpreted within the framework of the story teller’s own culture and that culture’s understanding of the world, (not ours). We don’t have to doubt their word. But we also should not assume that we can understand their experience of reality, experiences that require a type of awareness or consciousness that we may not share. (“Social Science Commentary of the Synoptic Gospels,” B. Malina & R. Rohrbaugh, p. 329) So now, maybe what is more important is, how do we tell the story of the resurrection, the story that is central to our faith? How do we share the Christian story? Well, in many ways, we tell the Easter story just as the writers of the gospels did; in a variety of ways, as we have experienced resurrection in our own lives. What do I mean by that? I’ll give you three examples: Marge Goodrid, Ruth Rhoades, and Lester Pearson. I was able to visit with each of them this last week. They are all a part of our church family, but because of health issues, it’s difficult for them to come to church. They have lived long, Christian lives. Marge turned 94 yesterday. She still lives fairly independently in a small apartment, kept very tidy. She belongs to a book club that meets at the apt. complex where she lives, and she rides the SEATS bus to the local grocery store for her groceries. Marge told me that there’s a woman in the apartments who is somewhat nosey. This woman doesn’t gossip, but she wants to know everyone’s business. Because of that, the woman has been ostracized. When she enters a room where the other women have gathered, the women leave….except for Marge. “It’s not the Christian way,” she tells me. Marge is bringing hope, love and acceptance to this woman. She is bringing new life; RESURRECTION!/ Ruth has her own apartment, too, which she also keeps spotless. Ruth loves to visit, and is always concerned and asks about the church family. She loves hearing about the children and knows many of them, by name. She’s made friends with others in her complex. At meal times, she sits in the dining room at a special table---well, it isn’t really special in the common sense of the word. It’s special, because she sits with a woman who no one else likes to sit with. This woman will speak, inappropriately, and so others choose not to sit with her. But Ruth knows that this is a part of her mission; to befriend this woman, accept, forgive and care for her. Ruth is bringing acceptance, forgiveness, and love to this woman. She is bringing new life; RESURRECTION! It is possible there are some who have not yet experienced resurrection; new life. Like Mary, in John’s gospel, they may stand outside an empty tomb, with no hope. The best thing they have ever experienced has left their world, and they haven’t a clue where to look. And so they weep./ It’s possible that their tomb is the empty soul within, where they look and find nothing, or cringe at what they see. Perhaps they recognize remnants of an old self they once knew but is no more. Or maybe it’s just empty; cold, dark, lonely and aching. You may know Lester, and the trouble he’s had with his memory in these last few years. I went to see him, too, last week. Louise was there with him, having a cup of coffee, and Lester looked very happy and calm. It was a good morning for him. He wasn’t in a state of confusion---yes, that, too, is an altered state of consciousness. Still, Lester struggles with keeping things straight. Sometimes it is difficult for him to finish his sentences. He can’t recall the right words. But when I asked Lester to pray, he had no trouble. His prayer came straight from his heart, a long litany of praise and thanksgiving. This, too, is an altered state of consciousness; a familiar one for Lester—something he has practiced for years, in his ministry. This is renewed life, stirred within his soul; RESURRECTION! As Easter people, we are called to share that new life. God is calling us as empowered people, risen in an altered state of consciousness, with keen awareness of the new life within—and the possibilities of sharing that with those who weep. This is the message Jesus brought us. We’ve been called to resurrection and we need to show up! Look deep within. Be still. Look around and outward—there are people to clothe, mouths to feed, spirits to resurrect. Jesus is risen! Sing it in your hearts. Live the message! And trust that our good and gracious God, who loves us unconditionally, will come to you in surprising, unanticipated ways-- ways we might not immediately comprehend. Allow yourself to be touched by God’s grace and blessing; to be renewed, RESURRECTED, in this life. Lift up your voice. Give thanks. Halleluiah! Jesus is risen! Amen. |