Readings for Easter
B: Mark 16:1-8
April 20, 2003
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
"They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid." I think Christians from mainline denominations have a lot in common with the women at the tomb. Like them, many of us say "nothing to anyone" about the joy, the power, and the hope of the resurrection. But unlike the women at the tomb who kept quiet because they were afraid, we keep quiet (not because we are afraid) but because we are plagued by doubt. Many of us are not sure about the risen Christ in our own lives and so in our agnosticism, we hesitate to go out and proclaim something that is not an integral part of our experience. Unfortunately, we "say nothing to anyone."
However, there are many who do experience the joy and power of the resurrection. They would tell us that many 21st-century Americans are not experiencing the risen Christ because our normal awareness of God has been reduced and muddied. Our awareness of God is muddied because we have lost our contemplative edge to recognize God in our daily lives. We are no longer awed and inspired by the mystery and beauty of creation, but rather we are dulled by the over stimulation of our senses caused by our busy lifestyles and the focus on the self.
The gospel of Mark tells us that the risen Christ is to be found not in an empty tomb, not in the rat race of life, not in the narcissistic ego, but in Galilee. Galilee is the place where Jesus began his teachings; teachings which contain God's word for humanity. If we want to experience the risen Christ, these teachings will show us the way. These teachings point out the excess baggage that hinders our journey.
Twelve hundred years ago in China, a middle-aged man named P'ang Yun loaded everything he owned onto a boat and sank it all in the Tung-t'ing Lake. In the early morning, he was seen treading water in the middle of the lake, watching the last bubbles rise from the sunken boat. The air was crisp and quiet and the lake was misty and still. Then P'ang Yun, swam to shore, unencumbered, free to make the journey. Perhaps this is what we need to do to get rid of the baggage that encumbers us. What baggage are you carrying around?
For some of us, that baggage includes an excessive pre-occupation with the self. Somewhere, sometime (perhaps all the time), a message has gone out, that human beings are always suppose to be happy, healthy, wealthy, and wise. And if by some chance we do experience pain or discomfort of any kind, then we have been taught to stop the world and focus on ourselves. So we buy stuff, eat stuff, drink stuff, busy ourselves, pamper ourselves, (you name it) in order not to face the pain and disappointments of life. Before we know it, we have allowed the world to revolve around ourselves rather than around God.
This excessive pre-occupation with the self draws us away from the love of God and our love towards others. This excessive pre-occupation must be loaded into the boat and sunk. The road to Galilee is traveled by seeking and serving Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves. If you find that you are becoming the center of your universe, or that you are always feeling sorry for yourself, get up and wash your face. Go feed someone who is hungry, transfer some money to a charity, visit someone who is in prison, or homebound, or who doesnıt have any friends. There you will find the risen Christ.
There are other people who are weighed down by the baggage of a busy lifestyle. The demands of everyday life overwhelm them, leaving no time to smell the roses or to contemplate the glory and awe of God in creation. God is no longer present in ordinary awareness because they are no longer contemplative. They are living the unexamined life and its price is agnosticism. For many of us, our lives have turned into a rat race. If we continue to choose to participate in the rat race, we need to know that the only thing waiting for us at the end of the race is a bunch of rats. These rats need to be loaded into the boat and sunk. Take time out to nurture your soul. Spend five minutes in silence each day before you get out of your car to go to work or before you leave this service of worship. Silence is a gift you can give yourself. Nurture your soul by reflecting on the Holy Scriptures, going on retreat, savoring the flavor of one cup of coffee, admiring the web of a spider or the petal of a flower. "Do not worry about what you will drink, or eat, or wear.But strive first for the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Mt 6)
Finally, I want to say something about speaking the truth. Lying in public or private corrupts our lives. When you read the daily paper or listen to news on the television or radio, note any instances of lying or deception. Then throw them into the boat to be sunk. Discuss the news with others for a reality check. If you hear political doublespeak such as selling what you have to give to the rich, or cutting the safety net of the marginalized to improve the standard of living, don't believe it. Listen carefully to that inner voice. You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. This is where the risen Christ presides.
During the next several weeks, I will continue to preach on how to identify the baggage that keeps us in a state of doubt and agnosticism. But in the meantime, I want to encourage you to go back to Galilee. This means going back to the beginning of Mark's gospel to the words in the first chapter: "Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God." (Mk.1) Read the good news about the evil powers being confronted, the sick being healed, sinners forgiven, the hungry fed, life and hope arising out of despair. Read it again and then let the risen Christ open your eyes, soften your heart, and heal your blindness. It is then you will begin to see what the risen Christ is doing right now in the world. Alleluia, Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed, alleluia!
| Updated 4/22/03 |
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