A Resurrection Chorus

(from www.lifeandwork.org)

A reflection for Easter Day by the Rev Roddy Hamilton

Luke 24:1-12

At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared. They found the entrance stone rolled back from the tomb, so they walked in. But once inside, they couldn’t find the body of the Master Jesus.

They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there. The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship. The men said, “Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?” Then they remembered Jesus’ words.

They left the tomb and broke the news of all this to the Eleven and the rest. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them kept telling these things to the apostles, but the apostles didn’t believe a word of it, thought they were making it all up.

But Peter jumped to his feet and ran to the tomb. He stooped to look in and saw a few grave clothes, that’s all. He walked away puzzled, shaking his head.

Reflection

Why mess up the day with words and phrases,
Of explanation and doctrine.

They are not enough.
And can never be.

There is only the sound of breathing,
And footprints landing in dew.

Only yesterday,
Heaven seemed an impossible distance.

Now we have today,
And it is enough.

Prayer

In the cracking of dawn,
And the stirring of light;
In the sparkling of dew,
And the rising of the sun;
In the singing of birds,
And the dancing of trees;
We join the chorus
Of arrival,
Of promise,
Of belief:
A resurrection chorus.

May we, O Living Lord,
In this reborn light,
Shape a new relationship with the future,
And meet you there,
With all those in every conflict and hunger,
And for whom this promise
Pulses in their blood,
And brings new breath
To tired lungs.

Fill them now
With Alleluias

The Rev Roddy Hamilton is minister of New Kilpatrick Parish Church, Bearsden