sermon excerpts: "Filled by Emptiness"

(Matthew 28: 1-10)
It turns out the morning was also dangerous, what with earthquakes and heavenly agents rendering soldiers almost dead. And like so many times in the Bible, the witnesses to God’s greatness are greeted with the words: “Do not be afraid.” Which is always a backhanded comfort because the implication is that there is good and legitimate reasons for being afraid.

In this case, Mary and Mary receive the angelic message of unbelievable good news then meet the risen Christ, who offers his greetings and the same message: “do not be afraid.” Afraid of what? More earthquakes? Of telling what they had seen? Of the Pharisees or Roman Empire? Of death? These are all practical considerations that would benefit from some reassurance.

Do not be afraid of appears to be empty. For in such absence is also opportunity. For into such space, the spirit may flow. There is a Buddhist saying that cryptically asserts that a bowl is most useful where the clay is not. It is for the empty space that we have bowls in the first place; we can fill them with whatever we choose. That is also our life – we fill it with whatever we choose.

Let us look to emptiness as a sign of something better to come, something that defies description, going beyond meaning and logic. This morning the bread will be broken, the chalice will be drained, and we carry the substance and mark of grace and resurrection with us into the world. Communion is a time that we are filled and fed so that we might in turn also be emptied as we give of ourselves to those around us.

Easter is to reject the emptiness of the world’s hollow promises, seeking instead the fullness of God’s grace and mercy, Christ’s passion and justice and the Holy Spirit’s inspiration and comfort. After the earthquake, the angel invites us into the grave. (Yes, here’s where the words “do not be afraid” come in very handy).

The stone was not rolled away so that Jesus might be set free, that has already happened. The stone was rolled away so that we might enter into the place where he was and see that the grave no longer has a hold on us. Filled with life and possibility at the realization that death’s threat over us is an empty one, we can know that we do not ever end, but thrive and live eternally.

Such is the promise of Easter, of spring, and the comforting words of the angel and the rise Saviour. Do not be afraid to believe. Dare to dream. Don’t be afraid of getting your hopes up. Don’t be afraid of looking into the darkness of a tomb as morning breaks, for it is this empty void that gives shapes to the dreams of possibility and promise. In Christ’s resurrected life, we know this is true. All praise and glory to God, alleluia, amen.