Seismic Power of God
Fifteen years ago this August, my spouse, John, and I were on the train, traveling south toward Washington DC. As we were passing by Philadelphia (we could see the city off to our left), we felt a slight tremor and heard a rumbling sound and the train abruptly stopped. We soon found out that there had been an earthquake in Virginia, about 100 miles southwest of Washington.
It was considered a moderate earthquake (registering 5.8 on the Richter scale). The initial tremor and numerous aftershocks could be felt up and down the east coast and as far west as Illinois.
It must have been a frightening moment for those who were near the center of the quake.
Fortunately, there were no deaths and only minor injuries were reported.
There was widespread property damage, including near the top of the Washington Monument (which was closed for repairs for 3 years) and the Washington National Cathedral (parts of which are still being restored today).
The earthquake that hit the east coast on that August day in 2011 was a seismic event – it was a sudden and powerful shift in the earth; a change that impacted the lives of those who lived through it for years to come.
I’ve been thinking about this earthquake this week, as I have been contemplating our gospel story for today.
This is the familiar gospel story of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead after 3 days in the tomb. It is the story of how his resurrection brings hope and new life for all of God’s people who worship him with fear and great joy. It is the culminating story of the passion of Jesus – God-with-us; Emmanuel……the one who came that we might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10).
This is a familiar gospel story, one that we hear every year, with some variation here and there. It is the cornerstone of our faith and belief and trust in Jesus Christ.
It is the story we celebrate and tell each other repeatedly throughout the year, as we gather together faithfully in worship Sunday after Sunday.
So, it’s a familiar story; we may know it well. Yet if we listen closely, perhaps we can hear something new.
Today we hear the gospel story told according to Matthew. The story begins in the same way as the other gospels – on the day following the Sabbath, the women who had followed Jesus throughout his ministry and who stood at the foot of the cross to witness his death now go to the tomb. Remember the tomb had been sealed by a big stone. Perhaps the women wonder how they will move the stone to get into the tomb.
Matthew includes a detail that is found only in this gospel – the moment when suddenly there was a great earthquake, (and) an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. (I love that little detail – the angel rolled back the stone and SAT on it; showing little regard for the power of the empire that had sealed the stone to the tomb to keep Jesus inside).
No other gospel mentions the earthquake – the seismic event – the sudden and powerful shift in the earth and in heaven (the angel came down!) that was experienced by Mary Magdalene and the other Mary who was with her at the tomb.
Let’s take a minute and put this story in context. What led to this moment when there was suddenly a great earthquake that changed everything?
This has been a challenging week for Jesus.
Last Sunday he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, greeted by crowds of people who were excited to see him; they were waving palm branches and shouting Hosanna! Save us! and
…this past Thursday Jesus sat down at the table to eat with his friends and he fed them with bread and wine and washed their feet and told them to do the same and then gave them a new commandment to love one another as he has loved them and
…later that night he was betrayed and arrested in the Garden where he had gone to pray and his own friend denied knowing him three times and he was questioned by the high priests and brought before the Roman governor, the most powerful person in Jerusalem (or so the governor thought) and was beaten and mocked and tortured and condemned to die by crucifixion as if he were a criminal and
.…on Friday he carried his cross through the streets of Jerusalem and was nailed to the cross and died on the cross and was buried in the tomb and
….on Saturday, the Sabbath, the final day of this long week, he lay in the tomb as the city of Jerusalem waited in silence and grief for what was to come next.
Jesus endured the trauma of this week – up to and including his torturous death on the cross – because he was seen as an enemy of the Roman Empire; a threat to the status quo power of the Empire.
Jesus chose to live his life in a different way – fully obedient to the will of God – preaching and teaching God’s way of love and forgiveness and healing for all people.
Jesus was steadfast in living out his faith in public; steadfast in his love for God; steadfast in his love and compassion for all the people who came to him for healing and feeding and teaching; steadfast in his desire to do God’s will, even when it was painful; even when it led to his death.
A death that was not the end..
A death that would not last…
A death that did not have the final word…
The final word belongs to God.
The final word is the love that God has for all of God’s creation.
The final word is the fullness of life that God offers to those who believe, who trust in the power of God (and not humans) to make all things new. (Rev 21:5)
The final word is Jesus Christ, the Word (that) became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb where Jesus was buried. They saw instead the seismic power of God to change everything – to shake the earth and open up new possibilities; to raise Jesus from the dead; to bring new life to all creation.
May you come to know and experience the seismic power of God in your life….the sudden and powerful shift in the earth and the heavens that opens up new possibilities and changes everything in how you live and move and have your being in the faith of Jesus Christ.
May the seismic power of God transform you and give you courage to be steadfast in living out your faith in public; to be steadfast in your love for God; to be steadfast in your love and compassion for all people; to be steadfast in your desire to do God’s will, even when it is painful, even when it leads to widespread change.
Do not be afraid, the angel said to the women. Jesus has been raised…go and tell his disciples and go back to your home (Galilee) and you will see him.
Do not be afraid, the risen Jesus said to the women….go and tell my siblings and go back to your home (Galilee) and you will see me.
Do not be afraid…go and tell others…go and see Jesus for yourself.
Jesus is raised from the dead through the seismic power of God.
And that changes everything.
Alleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!