Reclaiming Joy - Easter

In W B Yeats' play Calvary, Jesus talks briefly as he is dying; once with Lazarus, once with Judas, and once with the Roman soldiers. All are intriguing conversations, but Lazarus holds in common with Jesus something few of us are yet to experience: the resurrection. Thus, the conversation is surprising for the reader. Jesus expects that Lazarus won't be among those mocking him on the cross, but Lazarus surprises him. "I had been dead and I was lying still in an old comfortable mountain cavern when you came climbing in there ... and dragged me to the light."

Yeats' fictional Lazarus is unhappy about his life. He wanted the solitude of death because being brought back to life was an unhappy experience for him. Yeats suggests that Lazarus had not enjoyed life enough for a repeat showing. It's hardly the good word we expect from a guy who got a second chance!

It begs a question for those willing to contemplate such Easter issues: would you, upon your death, want to be resurrected to your current life?

Live While You're Alive

You see, Easter is something powerful, way outstripping eggs and bunnies. It thins out the veil between life and death, inviting the faithfully curious to peer through to the other side. And, having peered through the veil, we must return to living our life, much like Lazarus who was called back to the living of life. As you ponder the resurrection this weekend, consider death. But also consider this life, for I am convinced that the resurrection gives you power for today, in addition to the sweet by and by.

We'll think more about this on Easter Sunday in a sermon from 1 Corinthians 15.12-26 called Live While You're Alive. If you're in the DC metro area this weekend, you're invited for the festivities of Easter beginning at 10:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church Gaithersburg.

I just wanna live while I'm alive,
Pastor Gary