Easter Sunrise Homily

Upside Down yet Rightside Up:
The Resurrection of Our Lord
by Rev. Lance Armstrong O’Donnell, Pastor
St. Philip Lutheran Church and School
Chicago, Illinois

Easter Sonrise Service

May Chapel of Rosehill Cemetery--Chicago
3 April, A.D. 2010
Isa 65.17-25; 1 Cor 15.19-26; Lk 24.1-12 (trans. fr. Easter Day)

"If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:19-22, ESV)

These words from our Lord, on this day, in this setting, call us all to repentance. They call us to remember with the eyes of faith who we really are, that even as we live and breath we are “dual-citizens,” having  simultaneously an earthly and a heavenly citizenship. On this day, in this setting, though, we remember that our earthly citizenship will pass away. As St. Paul says in Philippians 3:

"Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." (Philippians 3:20-21, ESV)

All around us we see vivid reminders of death, “death” being what St. Paul called “the wages of sin.” Yes, this is a powerful setting to proclaim the victory of Jesus Christ. Christ is risen!!! [He is risen, indeed!] Today that victory over the grave speaks prophetically still, as we anticipate with hope what what Isaiah prophesied some 700 years before Christ’s birth:

" “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.. . They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord." (Isaiah 65:17, 23-25, ESV)

Yes, the God-Man Jesus, whose resurrection we celebrate today with Mary and Peter all the company of heaven, this Jesus who has kept every promise, has promised to return for us and for all the faithful whose bodies have turned to dust. For though we may return to dust, that is not the end of the story. The end of the story that we remember this morning is that glory awaits us! And is not an end but rather a “new beginning.”

Is that not the hope that dwells deep in every human soul, the hope that becomes so evident when we encounter death, especially the death of one we love? It certainly is the hope that animated Peter, who defied all social convention and “ran to the tomb.” You can almost hear it in his mind, “Can it really be true???”

Yes, Peter! Yes, friend! For “if in this life only we have hoped in Christ, [then] we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those [like the faithful gathered around us here] who have fallen asleep.

Yes! If Christ is raised from the dead, then all His promises are true. And His promises are for you, just like they were to a woman named Martha:

"Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”" (John 11:21-27, ESV)

And Martha saw the glory of God. In God’s own time, you will, too.

Christ is risen!!! [He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!]

May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen