Easter Day 2025

Easter Sunday 2025

On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women who had come with Jesus from Galilee came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again." Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened. Luke 24:1-12

The story of the first Easter is both dazzling and all too human. Brokenhearted and grieving women go out to the tomb to honor their friend. They were planning to wash and anoint his body, since his lifeless body was whisked away before they had a chance. They were risking everything, in a tense and violent environment, to honor the one they loved. Their act might seem like a normal thing to us, but it might also have been seen as treason. In the darkness of early dawn they crept out, in tears, to honor Jesus. And they became the first witnesses of the resurrection. The disciples didn't believe them, they were "only" women. The least were shown the greatest gift. May we remember this Easter Sunday, how in the midst of sorrow and duty, love arisen and renewed is revealed to the humble and overlooked among us.

                                        A Litany for Easter Sunday

Wondrous Creator, source of light and life

you give us signs of your renewing love

in the life bursting from the ground around us.

Jesus, we praise you, risen and living among us, Alleluia.

We see the toil and the drudgery ahead of us

to make our gardens spring to abundant life

forgetting that each new day is a spectacular gift.

Jesus, we praise you, risen and living among us, Alleluia.

You lift us up from underneath the dust and rubble

your mend broken hearts and welcome the stranger

make us ready to be witnesses of your love here.

Jesus, we praise you, risen and living among us, Alleluia.

Take our arrogance and our annoying insecurities

and turn them into humble gratitude and great joy.

Jesus, we praise you, risen and living among us, Alleluia.

Help us to turn to our neighbors and open our hearts

so we might see new life where sorrow used to live.

Jesus, we praise you, risen and living among us, Alleluia.

And make us listen to the bird song and the breeze

so we might know this day of resurrection always.

Jesus, we praise you, risen and living among us, Alleluia. Amen, Alleluia!