What is Resurrection - Luke 20

What is the resurrection to you?

Tony E Dillon-Hansen

Sermon based upon Luke 20: 27-38: Psalm 98

Opening prayer

Beloved, todays text is not an easy one to lift. As one commentator suggests (and I agree) this isn’t one of those Bible passages that we run to read to find solace and comfort. 

We could talk about traditions that are raised in this lesson where a poor woman lives through marriage arrangements of seven brothers.  Who is the unlucky one in this? What does this say about the brothers or the woman? And my, how this shows how patriarchy and tradition are willing to use people as pawns - to pass some person from one to the next like a second-hand garment.

Yes we could spend time talking about tradition, and I suggest to you, who dislike this type of broken tradition, remember that when you go to the ballot box.  Ask good questions of who gives choice and dignity versus who hold people to ridiculous notions, unfair traditions or broken institutions or even ugly church hierarchies? 

Still, if we look at verse 27, we see the Sadducees questioning Jesus, as many religious scholar and elders would do in those days.  This is, however, a familiar question to us today where some don’t believe in resurrection. We have doubters and Thomas among us. That questioning or non-belief challenges us because it tests our belief in Easter. It tests our faith and belief in resurrection, in the afterlife and what we call everlasting life.  

This is a good question for us here today in our life. 

So when people talk about the resurrection and the afterlife, what does that look like to you? Is resurrection and everlasting life just a continuation of what we know today in our world or is it something more?

For many who think of afterlife is to meet lost spouse, parents, friends, or relatives, but you think those people, that person is really just waiting for your arrival? What will they look like? How will you see them? How will they see you?

For those who are disabled, disfigured, blind, mute, deaf - what will these conditions be like or will there be something more? For the all of us, does this “life” mean no pain, suffering or otherwise? 

That last one might have you reconsider the idea about people “waiting” in want for us in the afterlife.

Beloved, I believe it is something much more. I submit to you that resurrection and everlasting life are not just concepts of endless living because God offers us more than just living in the same shell, the same situation, or the same old anything…

God offers for us a way to see dimensions, to be with people with pure amazement, to be the shine in all of our splendor, and to use all of our gifts - those divine gifts, beautiful body, beautiful thoughts, and amazing spirits (not the ones from the liquor store). You need nothing of the sort in this realm of God because you have all you need, and you , beloved, are amazing before God.

Thus again the question to consider is what does resurrection and everlasting life mean to you or to us as a community?  What does afterlife mean to us when we get that news from the doctor telling us we have months left? What do we hear when we survive an accident, a tornado, only to be without house, or worse without our beloved spouse or friend or mother?  

We, in this life, long for many things and long to be with people we love and cherish, but the resurrection, everlasting life, is more than just an extension of who we are today.

It is living in the realm of God as a spiritual wonder where want and need are satisfied, and love is all around, and grace is always accessible.  Is that not a pleasant thought? 

Let your imagination, your heart and your soul be filled with that for just a moment, and you will find a bit of that everlasting life here and now. 

That is truly a miracle and worth our faith, hope and love. That is truly our purpose - to bring some of that life into our world, into our spaces and into the hearts around us - one burrito at a time - one smile at a time.  That is because when we believe it, when we live that love and grace, when we serve that love and grace, others will want to be a part of that.  Then together, we find an amazing way of being that goes far beyond tradition and far beyond our imaginations.

This beloved is why we do church and why we believe in Jesus.  This is why we say that Jesus transcends tradition, generations, or weird social behaviors. Our God is much more than Christmas trees, fancy robes, Easter bunnies and symbols. This everlasting life is a way of living with hope, faith and love in our hearts. So that whatever is in the afterlife - whatever is beyond our last physical breath, we are ready for it with those we love and cherish - with no worries or wonder if we did all that we needed to do. 

This is not just service because we have to or are commanded but we serve because we love, we have faith and hope. We serve because there is life for more than just me.

Why ? because we do church, we do everlasting life in our world and bring some of that hope and love to those who need it. That beloved, is no fiction, but truth, life andGod.

Thanks be to God!