The Tomb is Empty
The Tomb is Empty
I very much enjoy being the first one in the building on Sunday mornings. I love walking through the building, turning on lights, turning up the heat or air depending on the season, checking things and just making sure everything is ready. Things like: Are the bulletins out? Is the Bible marked? Are there any necessary sign-up sheets ready? Just the mundane tasks of bringing the building to life. It gives me a chance to mentally prepare, spiritually center, and make any last-minute edits to the sermon that I might have thought of the night before.
As we are living through Holy Week, it occurred to me that coming into the church taking care of these quotidian tasks, getting things prepared was very much like the women who went to the tomb on that first Easter. They had in their minds that there were things that needed done, tasks that have been left undone because of the Sabbath. Depending on which of the gospel versions of the story you read, they went with certain questions, and concerns but in every case, they found the tomb empty. Then they ran to tell others.
Every Sunday, and especially on Easter, I am reminded that Christ is not here, he has gone on ahead of us …
The other time on Sunday that I really enjoy is after worship, when I am doing everything is reverse. Turning off lights, turning down thermostats, checking bathrooms, and clearing off the pulpit. There may be a few people still around, visiting, practicing some music, or helping with the quotidian tasks of closing the church. But it is quiet. There are signs that people have been here, some bulletins in the pews, a stack of them to be recycled, a forgotten coffee cup, a couple hymnals not back in the pew racks.
I am reminded that Christ is Risen and is not here, he has gone ahead. After church it is a really strong image as I imagine the faithful going out into the world as the Body of Christ to share the good news that the tomb is empty.
You are invited to Trinity on Easter Morning – come here the good news – The Tomb Is Empty … and then take that news with you to share!