But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” – Matthew 28:5-7
A blessed Holy Week to all in the Pacifica Synod. I am praying for our congregations and worship communities in the days ahead, for meaningful services and for the gospel to be heard by all who worship. I am particularly praying for our worship leaders, both lay and rostered, who have already spent much time preparing for worship on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil Saturday, and Easter Sunday morning. I remember how I felt when I served as one of the pastors at St. Andrew’s in San Diego following all of our worship services. We had two services on Maundy Thursday, two on Good Friday, one on Easter Saturday, and four on Easter Sunday morning. By 12 noon, Jesus was risen indeed, but I felt dead. At least dead tired. But I also felt exhilarated as I heard again the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection for us, and joined with many worshippers in marveling at the mystery of Jesus’ death and rejoicing with alleluias at the good news of Christ’s resurrection.
We particularly need that good news in our world today. I was shocked and saddened by the news of the shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, which took the lives of three people, the assailant and two victims, one a student at the school. This tragedy brings to mind the trauma the people of San Bernardino went through just over a year ago, in December of 2015, when fourteen people were killed by a shooter. But the suffering of the world goes beyond San Bernardino and beyond our Synod. Our world has currently a record number of refugees, 21 million according to the United Nations, who have left their homes due to violence, warfare, or persecution. Over 50% of these are children. They flee their homes at a time when fewer and fewer nations, including our own, are willing to welcome them in. In the face of such suffering and senseless violence, what difference can our message of the resurrection make?
It makes all the difference in the world. For by dying, Christ destroyed the power of sin and evil to separate us from God and one another, and by rising, Christ rose to be with us each and every day. This means that no matter what happens, God is with us. Throughout this life, God is here to help us and guide us, and when this life is over, even then God won’t leave us but will lead us into eternal life. So, we do not need to worry about what will happen to us in this world. We are safely in God’s hands. Thus, we can raise our eyes from worry about ourselves, and worry about our neighbors in need. We can trust that God will be with us to help us counter the powers of evil and injustice that culminate in wars, violence and bloodshed. We can reach out to help refugees, suffering neighbors, and all those in need.
This is what Pastor Scottie Lloyd of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in San Bernardino did. He, along with other members of faith communities, made himself available to help parents and children traumatized by the recent school shooting. This is what we can do in our neighborhoods as well, listening to and caring for our neighbors, working for justice, and helping people live in hope.
The angel said to the women, “You are looking for Jesus. He is not here. He has been raised. This is my message for you.” In the proclamation of that message, God gives hope to the world. May God bless your congregations and worshipping communities as you share that message. And through your work in these next few days, may your communities experience God’s Easter hope.
In Christ Jesus,
Bishop Andy Taylor