Who let that rabbit in here?? Happy Easter, Everybody. Welcome.
Readings:
Acts of the Apostles 10, 34-43. You know what has happened all over Judea
Psalm 118, This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad.
1 Corinthians 5, 6-8, A little yeast leavens all the dough.
John 20, 1-9, The Resurrection
Chloe with Nora and Charlotte and their buddy, all say, "Happy Easter, Folks, welcome in."
Resurrection
I would like to talk about the Resurrection this morning. I suspect that you, like me, consider this event a one time event from ancient history.
However, on the contrary, I want to suggest that resurrection events are multiple and present tense. They take place daily or, at least, frequently in our lives. A resurrection moment is a moment of great positive feeling, great consolation, a Kilimanjaro moment, and a time when I say ‘It is good to be alive.’
Joanie and the kids.
Let me give you 4-5 examples.
First, there is a bike ride the last Saturday every August in and around Wichita Falls, yes, the famous Hotter ‘N Hell. After you have ridden the 100 miles and just before the finish line in town, you pass over a bridge leading up and then down to the finish. Many a time when I am on top of that bridge, I am in tears, tears of gratitude and positive feelings. I can say to myself, ‘It is so good to be alive!’
The Gerwers, Casey & Rob, and the kids.
Secondly, another bike ride in July, for a week, 500 miles, crossing Iowa from west to east, from the Missouri to the Mississippi. When I come down a hill and behold that enormous gorgeous river, I have a Kilimanjaro moment. Tears again, gratitude, wonder. ‘It is good to be alive.”
Cody with Ben & Olivia.
Thirdly, Labor Day every September we put together a group of 5-12 people and we head out back packing. I started doing this with the Jesuits back in “89 and we have seen numerous beautiful parks. For me The Beauty is Yosemite and especially our particular route on the east side, a route I call Matterhorn Canyon.
There are 3 passes of 10 thousand feet. Kilimanjaro moments each. Equally positive are 2-3 special campsites. ‘It is good to be alive in Yosemite.’
Harper with her daddy, Brian, and her granddaddy, Ted
2 more. Every Fall and Spring many of us in the community volunteer at the Love for Kids picnic at Circle K ranch in Flower Mound. 2 weeks ago I am standing at the entrance to the pavilion to welcome the kids, who are all handicapped. They come with their marvelous parents.
At one point my attention was caught by a little blond girl about 2 years old seated in a pram. She had her left hand over her eyes, her head was down on the little basket, and she was sobbing her eyes out. She broke my heart. I think she might have been scared by all the people.
Our Great Candle Lighter, Cole, at work.
Bill Hammond has a story about a little boy about 3 who had a left prosthetic leg. I noticed him coming in, for sure. Bill says that later the boy & his family approached the horses for a sponsored ride. The family told Bill they did know. The boy did not even like to pet dogs.
The little boy, however, was so excited once he got on the horse that the horse walkers toured the boy around not one time, but two.
I think we have the Zurchin clan here, Tom & Charlotte, Chloe & Nora with Denni, and Claire & Andrew.
What are your resurrection moments? When was the last one?
Carol with Karen, John, & Richard.