Matthew 28:1-10
From this morning’s Gospel reading: "After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake." The Greek says, mega seismos. MEGA seismos. A great earthquake.
A mighty power is afoot this morning. A mighty power.
And we risk getting caught up in it. Swept away. We risk being swept away, overwhelmed, by an immense power immeasurably beyond our own strength or control.
It can be a fearful thing to be confronted or overwhelmed by a power beyond our control. It can be a very scary or unwelcome feeling. I will never forget the time when, as an adult, I was swimming in the Gulf of Mexico and found myself in a current that was almost beyond my strength. For just a few moments, I wasn’t sure… In addition to ocean currents, storms and seismic events, other powers beyond our control assault us: relationships become toxic, undeserved and unexpected financial loss, war, illness. It can be a fearful thing to be confronted by and caught up in a power stronger than we are, beyond our control.
The angel says: Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid of today’s mega seismos.
One scholar writes about the angels’ words.
What the angel says about fear is, however, not a command. The sense of “Do not be afraid” is not an emphatic requirement but a comforting assurance: There is nothing to fear. You need not fear. This calming voice comes from an authority who speaks with power that is beyond this world.
The voice of comfort and reassurance comes with the same power as the mega seismos. And later, the risen Christ also says, do not fear.
Do not fear. This power is love. The power that is afoot today is God’s love. God’s love and life-giving power. It is a power stronger than any of the forces of this world that threaten you. God’s love and live-giving power are stronger even than death. The power of God’s love is stronger than any power of this world. It is a power that even in the midst of the assault of earthly powers brings us holiness, reconciliation and restoration, newness of life.
This power is God’s plan of salvation. There is nothing to fear; today there is only rejoicing. Let the power of this day sweep you away.
Early on in our observance of the Great Three Days, the time when we recall and relive the climax of God’s saving work in our lives, on Good Friday we heard of another earthquake. We also said this prayer. On Good Friday…
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light… [unchangeable power, overwhelming power…] carry out the plan of [your] salvation: let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and we are being brought to our perfection, new life.
We are being swept into new life by the almighty power of God—almighty, mighty over all other powers—swept into new life by the almighty power of God.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Amen.
