Every morning, all through the year, just before we’re about to process in to begin the service, I ask an acolyte, “What day of the week is it?” They always answer, “It’s Sunday.” Then I ask, “And, what is Sunday?” Because this is a repetitive exercise, they know the correct response and, with confidence, they reply “It’s Sunday, the best day of the week!”

This is our custom and expresses our truth, except on this Sunday, the answer is “It’s Easter, the best day of the year!” In fact, this Easter could turn out to be the best day of our life. The best day may be right here in front of us, because this morning, when the sun rose on God’s creation, everything was new. Everything was fresh, everything, anything was possible. All the old woulda, coulda, shoulda’s were gone. All the old worries and limitations had passed away. All the worldly rules and conventional wisdom were overturned. Their day was done. This morning a new reality came into being. In the early hours of this day, a whole new creation was born. Today, the world looks about the same but it is mightily different. 

These are rather spectacular claims but here is how their proof unfolds: Just as in the 1^st creation process, we are not cognitively certain of the details. Out of an expansive void, out of utter darkness and endless nothingness, God, that eternal entity beyond our comprehension, initiated life. By his hand or through his imagination, the rhythms and order of life began. Either through a cosmic bang or a slowly evolving process or a utopian garden, God created. He set the universe in motion and He established laws of nature to limit the forces of chaos. He created the principles we call physics and science as a way to keep His world balanced and secure. God surveyed the results and saw the effects of his handiwork were very good indeed. 

Near the end of the ever-expanding process, in love, and with forethought, God created humankind. With focused, precisioned intent, the Almighty gave His newest life form strength and goodness, reason and fortitude. As a final touch, he added the liberating, troublesome gift of choice. Unlike his other creations running on instincts, we operate with free will. With this upgraded component we maneuver as intended – sometimes!

To improve our level of performance, to encourage better results for our own well-being, God gave humanity instructions. He established covenants. He set enduring promises with our ancestors. “If you claim me as your sovereign Lord and honor me above all other things, I will keep you safe and well, prosperous and secure.” When we failed in our part, God sent the law – a clearer structure. In the code, rules and norms were concretely delineated. Rewards and consequences were spelled out. When humankind wandered far from the law, God sent the prophets. Wise men, articulate speakers, charismatic figures, the best voices the Almighty could find to make his purpose and pleasure known were raised up and dispatched. Their message went unheeded.

If the best, if the brightest minds and talent in the human genome could not sway God’s wayward creation, what could possibly serve? If humans would not follow their own to higher ground, then greater intervention was required. So, the Almighty, loving creator, poured his Godhead into human form. He pressed his divine impress deeply into the Son and sent him into the world on a once and for all rescue mission.

The Son came exuding the best human qualities. He came as the premier example for what humanity could be in this world. Breathing, sleeping, walking, eating, relating, Jesus demonstrated moment by moment how we were made to love God. 

Every day of his life, Jesus gave us definitive lessons in how to love our own species and how to honor the wondrous creation the Father handed over to us. Day by day, Jesus showed anyone who came within his sphere of influence exactly how we were made to think and love expansively. He was the best, the perfect example of human potential realized.

Sad, sad to say, the world did not accept God’s grand gesture. Humans who rejected the covenants and the law and prophets also turned their backs on God’s own Son. The world was scared and threatened by the message Jesus brought.

Putting God first, always and everywhere, loving others before and above self, was an uncomfortable call. Forces gathered and silenced the messenger.

But God would not be quieted. The world would not have the last word. God, the Almighty, the Originator, the Creator of all matter did not allow his original laws governing life and death to limit His scope or define His power. He made those laws in his first creation to serve His purposes and when they no longer answered His need, He overturned them and brought forth a new reality.

Death at the hands of human vessels would not be the final fate for the Son He sent to lead the world to new life. On that first Easter morning, a death was accomplished, but it was not the one expected. The Son rose and the old world order passed away. The Son came out of the tomb and the world’s sure and certain understanding of itself and God’s providence breathed its last. Everything changed that morning. In ways we cannot fully fathom, Resurrection occurred. In some form or fashion, Jesus was experienced in the world after his clear and certain death. In some form or fashion, credible witnesses encountered and interacted with the person they knew well before and through his passing away. Resurrection occurred. Death of an old order occurred. Birth of a new creation was accomplished. 

Jesus’ whole earthly experience was about putting to rest worldly notions. His entire time on earth was spent presenting an alternative reality. Jesus was singularly focused on “another way!” Powers and principalities say honor these leaders, value these virtues – attractiveness, achievement, affluence! Friends and families say put your hope and trust in the structures of the world. Success lies that way. Jesus said, “I tell you, there is another way, God’s way, and it is better, surer, longer lasting.” Jesus was solidly grounded in the passing away of the old order. He was clear about dying to former entrenched understandings.

And instead of merely preaching and teaching, lecturing and ranting, He effected the change. He took the old original creation that humankind distorted with him to his grave. He ended what was. That Easter morning a new order was resurrected with the Son. Out of the tomb came new life - a new beginning. A complete cosmic do over! 

Do we understand the complete grace and freedom this allows? Do we comprehend in the depths of our souls and recesses of our minds what happy, happy news this is for us? 

Today, everything starts over. Today, there is no former baggage hanging on to us like funeral wrappings. What we did or didn’t do, doesn’t matter. What we said or didn’t say doesn’t compute. Today we start fresh. Past grievances don’t have to hold us hostage. Previous unpleasantness can be released. We have the joyous opportunity to see life in God’s providence differently. We do not have to respond the way the world has always responded in the past. That way is not the singular operating force. Today, resurrection is the byword. New life, new ways of being are moving in the world. 

This day, we have the divine power and permission to try something new. We can actually trust God’s promises that turning the other cheek doesn’t make us weak, that tamping down anger, frustration, and impatience won’t give us ulcers. That a mild spirit and forgiving heart really does bring about peace of mind. 

Today in the world of Resurrection, we can put down worry. Thanks be to God, in the new life offered by the Risen Lord, we can say, “I’m not going to obsess about getting old and losing my mind. God will provide. I’ve lived well and people love me. They’ll take care of me and not resent the care. I’ll trust God and I’ll be fine.” In the Resurrected world, we can say, “I’m not going to be disappointed and hurt if the popular kids don’t ask me to sit at their table. I’m not going to feel bad if I make a B instead of an A. God made me well and fine and ultimately I have a long life to live and plenty of deeds to accomplish and if I trust God and my unique belovedness all will be well. And my parents need to understand this, too!”

In the post-Easter world, parents say this child is a gift from God, entrusted to my care, not every living minute has to be a teachable moment of character building experience! God will provide opportunities for growth and space for grace. We can breathe in acceptance for one another and relish each other.

In the new order, we recognize Christ suffered mightily to give us each a second chance. We should accept this offering with real thanksgiving. Today is the day. Now is the time to move out of the old life and into the light of the better way. Old hurts, pressing anxiety, broken relationships, fears about the future, lousy jobs, unrealistic expectations – enough already! Jesus died for us. Jesus died to release us from NONSENSE! Jesus died and He rose bringing new life, new possibilities. 

So…what are you going to do with your resurrection? Here it is. It’s right in front of you. It’s Easter morning – the first day in your brand new life! What are you going to do with it? A price was paid to buy us this great, great new beginning. How will we honor the gift? How will we show that we’ve walked out of the tomb of the dead order and into the light of Resurrection Life? 

How will the world know we are Christ’s own, followers of His way, people of the Resurrection?

And, dear ones, how will God the Father, and Christ his Son know that we understand the penultimate sacrifice, the extravagant love, the magnanimous grace accomplished in the birth of our new creation?

Thanks be to God, Thanks be to the Son and Happy, Happy Easter.