The Rev. Canon Kimberly Reinholz
Easter Vigil
April 3, 2015
Mark 16:1-8
Easter Vigil
April 3, 2015
Mark 16:1-8
It was early morning
when they set out—probably first light.
Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James, and Salome had gathered the
spices and oils, linens and other materials they needed to anoint Jesus’
body. As they walked the streets of
Jerusalem, and headed towards the grave in the hillside they were focused on
the task at hand. Focusing on their “to
do list” they concerned themselves not
about spiritual things but earthly ones- how will we move the stone they asked
one another as they walked. They did not notice as they walked that the light has
begun to spread and the head of the day had begun to rise.
When they arrive at the
tomb they found the stone rolled away and they were relieved, one less thing to
keep them from their unpleasant task.
Still singularly focused on the task at hand they entered the tomb and
only then did they become aware of what had happened.
How often in our lives
do we journey through our day as Mary and Mary and Salome do. Focusing on a single task or a master to do
list, we mentally check off ticks as we go about our days. This is especially true when we are going
through times of great change- for instance at the birth of a child or the
death of a loved one, we often find ourselves with lives so out of whack that
the only thing that makes sense for us is to do is make those check lists so
that we can complete even the most mundane tasks. Feed the dog, walk the dog, do the dishes,
take a shower, get dressed, in times of transition even the littlest things can
seem like boulders, a major impediment to completing a task.
But for us, while even
little things can become impossible obstacles when we are overcome by grief or
anguish or anxiety for God, nothing is impossible. We are here tonight in this gathering
darkness to celebrate that fact. The
fact that God’s infinite power overcomes all barriers, time and distance, guilt
and sorrow, grief and loss, distractedness and singular focus, and even death
itself.
We are here to recognize
the infinite power, grace and love of God, in this Holy Space, at this most
Holy Time. The Celts , our great Anglican ancestors, believe that the twilight
times of dusk and dawn are especially Holy , thin times. Holy times when heaven and earth are most
likely to comingle. Thin times when we are most able to see God in this
world. It is certainly true for the
Women in the Gospel today, that during the early morning hours, at first light,
they were able to encounter the unexpected (even in the midst of their singularly
focused distraction).
It is easy to
understand why the early morning and late evening hours are considered
mystical. Even the most agnostic among
us can believe in God when we witness a glorious sunrise or an amazing sunset. But tonight as darkness gathers and we
celebrate the Great Vigil of Easter I find myself pondering in my heart how
much I have missed.
Realizing that more
often than not these days, even though I am up before sunrise (while this was
not always the case) I have noticed that when I wake up it is dark and by the
time I get to work it is fully light and I have missed the sunrise.
And the same is true
for the sunset, dinner has to be made or bought and bath time and bedtime
routines must be adhered to or else there will be hell to pay, and before I
know it, it is dark.
So this year I am
especially grateful to gather with you, because so long as I don’t talk too
much longer, as we leave tonight we will have the opportunity to witness the
sunset. I pray that we will be able to
pause and breathe and encounter the God who created the world, the God who
joined with humankind in covenantal relationships established through Adam and
Eve, Abraham and Sarah, and a host of prophets, judges and kings. Continuing through Christ and the Apostles
martyrs and saints- including us- all the baptized members of the Church. A covenantal relationship that we will all be
reminded of when we renew our baptismal vows later in the liturgy.
I pray that in one of
these thin moments- in the sunset, the renewal of vows, or any time that we
catch a glimpse of God’s love that we might remember the God who became human
and lived as one of us as Jesus Christ.
I pray that we will be embraced by the God who loves us so much that
daily he reminds us that Heaven isn’t a far off imaginary place, but rather
that the kingdom of God can and is experienced here, in thin times and in thin
places. Like Salome and the Marys did on
that early morning and we do on this glorious evening we have the opportunity
to pause and realize that everything that keeps us from the love of God has
been pushed aside; if only for a moment; and in this moment I pray that we
might more able to share the knowledge that God’s kingdom is present in the
here and now, with those around us who are so singularly focused on the tasks
at hand, that they are unable or unwilling to look beyond the boulders, to look
beyond the check lists and recognize the thin spaces in our everyday life.
Tonight is an
opportunity for all of us to remember that we are enveloped in Holy time. Every morning and every evening we are given
is a gift from God; each one is a unique opportunity to witness the Holiness of
Creation and the Glorious and Unfathomable Love of God. Tonight as the sunsets
we prepare ourselves to witness the resurrection and remember the morning that
changed everything. The morning when
heaven and earth collided and God demonstrated that no matter how distracted we
are, how singularly focused we can be on worldly things that Jesus still can
and will still break through whatever separates us from the Love of God—be it
stone or distraction or even death. When
we take the time to encounter the Holy we realize that in fact the stone will
be rolled away and we can be amazed at what God can do in our lives
