Easter A + All Shook Up! + 4.9.23

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Easter Sunrise, He Qi

Melissa Campbell-Langdell

All Santos Oxnard

(Acts 10:34-43; Ps. 118: 1-2, 14-24; Colossians 3:1-4; Matthew 28:1-10)

He is Risen! And we are all shook up! Matthew’s gospel account of the Resurrection is astonishing because here we have an earthquake, an angel, and some terrified guards. And the two faithful Marys who are not Jesus’ mother are on their way to report the good news, even before they see Jesus. And then they see Jesus! And it is amazing.

I don’t about you all, but I was struck by the earthquake imagery in the Matthew gospel passage this year. I couldn’t help but think of the devastation in Turkiye and Syria and how, while earthquakes shake things up, they can sometimes bring such destruction. This earthquake appears relatively gentle by contrast. And yet, everyone who sees it and learns the surprising news of Jesus’ resurrection is all shook up. The shaking up is invigorating, but it also stills the guards. They became like dead men, so afraid were they. I loved a note by Warren Carter in my New Interpreter’s Bible this week, it said “God out-empires the empire, and renders it lifeless.”[1] So true! The guards are the representatives of the Roman Empire and they, whose reign terrorizes many, are terrified by God’s glorious actions.
Alene reminded me of a scripture this week, from Hebrews 12:27: “This phrase ‘Yet once more’ indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain (NRSV).” As I meditated on it, I was reminded that there are times in life when God or life stirs the pot. When things all seem to fall apart. When that which we had carefully cultivated and planned for all of a sudden goes to the wayside. And we are left clutching at straws. Or so it seems. At first, this is how it must have seemed to the disciples. They followed Jesus and expected a totally new life, a new Kingdom now. And what did they get? The death of their most precious friend. And then, just when they were going to grieve him, the unexpected trauma of resurrection.

Trauma of resurrection? You might well ask what on earth I mean by that. This week we listened to a podcast on “Trauma-Informed Preaching,” and it reminded me that even something ultimately really good for us can come to us as a trauma at first.[2] The disciples who went to the tomb expecting to visit Jesus’ body at first were traumatized. They wanted to visit the body of their beloved friend, and it was not there! Soon the shock they felt turned to joy. But before the joy, they still were all shook up. They were shaken. Perhaps you have experienced something similar? Something good happens, but it is unexpected, and at first it feels like a loss. Then, you see the good or the silver lining or the blessing in disguise.

Because there are moments in our lives when everything gets shaken up. You were planning on a certain life path, and everything goes another direction. It can be as small as the direction your day takes, or what to study at a certain time, or it can be as big as a change of life partners. But often when all is shaken up, God uses it. God will shake that which is shakable. Or life will. Sometimes it’s not God, but God is still there with you, helping you hold on for dear life. Because after the shaking, what is unshakable will remain.
Jesus appears after the female disciples leave the empty tomb. He appears to them in resurrected form! And they are overjoyed! And he sends them on to share the good news, just as the angel did. Everything is shaken up in this moment. But Jesus remains, albeit in a totally different form. Later, he will ascend, but his Spirit remains with us.
In the same way, when life shakes us up, that is often when new pathways emerge. Relationships end, but you either discover a new relationship with yourself and/or other family members. And you realize that is your most important relationship anyway. Or you find a new partner or friend who was worth the wait. Career paths close to you but new ones open up. An illness or injury closes one door but helps you see the way to another path. A child is born with a different need than expected, but through caring for them you learn things about yourself as a human you would never have learned if everything had gone as planned.
Easter is an earthquake, and often the invitations to new life in our lives come when everything gets shaken up. So, when you’re feeling shook, remember. Jesus is with you. He may be resurrected, or in Spirit, but he is here. And yes, some things will be shaken. You may even lose some things that you thought were your most precious possessions. The person or thing may fall away. But you will always keep the memories and the lessons learned, and that will lead to new life. That will be a part of your journey moving forward. But what is unshakable will remain.

This Easter, we heed the message of Paul to the Colossians in seeking the things that are above. We will remember, that if at times we feel shaken, we must hold tight to Jesus. And when things stop shaking, let us look for glimpses of new life. When we see them, let us share the good news with others. All is not lost! New life springs up in our midst, even and especially from the seeds of what has died. What is unshakable will remain. Amen.

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