04172022 – Easter 8 A.M.
This is normal…this is what I do, so “kindly” indulge me…
Where does the Easter Bunny go – when he needs “a new tail?” – The retail store!
Where does the Easter Bunny get his “eggs?” – From an eggplant!
What do you call an egg that “meditates?” – An ommmmmmlet!
And one more…
What do the Easter Bunny and the Milwaukee Bucks have in common?- They both like “stuffing baskets!” Go Bucks!
Ba dump, bump. Got that out of my system…now, let’s turn to Luke…
There was NO “HIGHER HONOR,” than that of taking care of the dead. That is still true today. It is humbling, respectful.
They are totally dependent. They are unable to care for themselves. They can not pay you back for your deeds of kindness. It is a true act of servanthood. But there was a slight problem…
It was a duty, a job, an obligation that left one “ritually unclean.”
Others shied away from you. Others steered clear from you. You were not able to worship with your worshiping community. You were temporarily an outcast, an outsider.
Numbers 19:11 states, “Whoever touches the dead body of any person shall be unclean for seven days. That’s a long time. Especially when it is a job, that NEEDS to be done!
Dealing with a dead body (a corpse) can be a shocking and an emotionally draining experience, and, if you attempt to touch or to move the dead body, it can put “YOUR health and YOUR safety” at risk.
The body of a deceased person can harbor “potentially infectious bacteria” that can “infect” those who come into contact with it.
And therefore, some paranoia and some misunderstanding about taking proper care of the dead.
The ancients were aware of these things…kind of…and therefore, you were to be considered “unclean.”
In line with Jewish law, the body had to be washed but not embalmed, before being dressed in a plain burial shroud.
It was important that the deceased eyes were closed, the corpse thoroughly washed, and then wrapped and bound tightly.
There was a time when “only men” could prepare the corpse of a man, but that changed “slowly over time” (as do most things…) Women were later allowed to prepare both men and women for burial.
Perfumes, spices and ointments were used in the “ritualistic washings.”
All of this, we see reflected in the Gospel of Luke. The women were coming to take care of Jesus. Their master. Their friend, their rabbounai. Their Lord. They came to do for him, what simply NEEDED TO BE DONE.
When they found the stone rolled away from the tomb and the tomb itself empty, they were “perplexed.” Which is to say they were puzzled, stumped, baffled, confused, and totally bewildered.
What happened? What had occurred? What did they miss? There was a flood of emotions that came rushing upon them all at once.
Then, all of a sudden, seemingly out of no where, there were the two messengers, the two angelic visitors in dazzling clothes who stood directly beside them. Beside them! Right beside them! And they were not there, just a moment before! Scary!
Talk about emotions, now they are terrified, afraid, scared, petrified and frightened, all the while being perplexed.
Of course, they looked to the ground, and did not raise their eyes! This is what they were supposed to do.
And then, more “confusing words” about “the living among the dead” and “rising again…” They were being reminded of some of Jesus’ very own words…
But HOW DID these MESSENGERS, these Angelic beings, KNOW the words of Jesus?
How could THEY know what Jesus had SAID TO HIS FOLLOWERS? What is the meaning of all of this? Where is Jesus? Wait. What? What is going on here?
And then Luke records, the women remembered his words…ah, yes, he HAD said THESE THINGS…
How strange. How odd. Women. Angelic Messengers…dazzling white, an empty tomb and the body of Jesus no where to be seen. Strange words…and then, Jesus’ own teachings being tossed right back at them…
The first witnesses, not of the resurrection itself, but of the empty tomb, of the strange messengers…and of the first words about resurrection…of course, the men WOULD NOT believe them. WHY WOULD THEY? It was outrageous talk! Silly. Idle chatter.
So Peter, the leader, Peter part of the inside circle, of three disciples, went to SEE for himself.
And seeing. HE WAS AMAZED. For it was just as the women had told them. The stone rolled away. The tomb was empty. And Jesus was no where in sight. No where to be seen. Peter was surprised, astonished, stunned and shocked. (Just like the women, before him!)
WHAT DID IT ALL MEAN? What did it signify?
And that’s where Luke leaves it for now, but trust me, he will be back, we are not finished with this story yet…
You know why, we are so tired in April?
Because we just finished a MARCH!
Amen.