Br. Jack Crowley

Easter Day

Matthew 28:1-10

Good morning and Happy Easter to you all! On behalf of all my brothers, I just want to say how thrilled we are to have you here with us today. If this is your first time in the monastery, welcome. You are welcome to join us in this glorious celebration. Alleluia, Christ is risen!

When I was a child and my eyes would open on Easter morning, usually my thought was “where’s my Easter basket?!” and I would tear through the house trying to find it. My family is here, you can ask them. Later on Easter morning, I would always find myself sitting in church, full of sugar, looking at the preacher, wondering how long he would go on for. So it’s with great irony that I finally find myself preaching on Easter morning.

We all have our own memories and feelings about Easter. For some, this is the most important day of the year. The day we celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For others, Easter is more about family, brunch, and the arrival of spring, all good stuff. The good news is, whatever brought you here today, and whatever feelings about Easter you brought with you here today, please know that you are not only welcome, you are also loved by God.

One of the truths we celebrate here is the unconditional love of God. Unconditional. It doesn’t matter what you are thinking or feeling, God loves you. It’s a love not based on conditions, it’s incredible.

We believe that God so loved the world that God sent his only begotten son into the world. We believe that God’s son, Jesus, was crucified, died, and was buried. On the third day, Jesus was risen. Jesus came back and he had a few things to say to us.

Now personally, if someone came back from the dead and had a message for me, I would pay attention. I would not only pay attention to the message, I would really try to let it soak in.

So what was Jesus’ message when he came back from the dead? Do not be afraid.

Do not be afraid because something greater than ourselves is at work. Something more powerful than meets the eye. Something we feel in our hearts but always have a hard time capturing. In my experience, most people have some intuitive understanding of this. They’ve experienced moments when it felt like God was breaking through to them. These moments are mysterious, but they are awesome. We live for these moments. Moments when time stops and we are present. Moments when the details of our life fade away, and what’s right in front of us is both whole and holy. This is God at work. Do not be afraid.

Do not be afraid, because God is available to us all. God’s love knows no bounds. God’s love shines through and through. We, as God’s children, get to live into that love. Do not be afraid.

We take that love and we spread it. We love one another as God has loved us. This love takes many forms. We love one another so that those who are desperate may feel some hope. We love one another so that those who are lonely may feel connected. We love another so that those who think peace is not possible in this world will find it first in their own hearts. Do not be afraid.

This love has power. A power beyond our understanding. Do not be afraid of it. Do not be afraid that this love will overtake you and change you. Do not be afraid that nothing will be the same after this love. All things will be made new. Do not be afraid.

Remember that we always have the power to choose love over hate. We always have the power to choose an open heart over a closed mind. We always have the power to choose faith over fear. Do not be afraid.

Now I know it’s not easy. I know we live in crazy, crazy times. The problem is if we wait for conditions to be right in order to love one another, it’s just not going to work. Conditions may never be perfect for love, that’s why we must practice unconditional love. Do not wait for things to be normal, do not wait for this to be all over, do not wait for things to calm down, instead, charge forward with your love. Meet the coldness of the world with a warm heart. Meet the chaos of the world with loving compassion. Meet the exhaustion of the world with a loving eye full of understanding. Do not be afraid.

Do not be afraid because Jesus is calling us to a courageous life. A life that does not hide from the world. A life built on truth and love. A life that counteracts the evils of this world. A life that leaves this place better than the way we found it.

As Saint Paul said, our struggle is against the cosmic powers of this present darkness. A darkness built on fear and hate. A darkness that’s always tempting. A darkness we recognize in our own shadow. We struggle against this darkness with all the light and love we bear. Do not be afraid.

Of course, we all know none of us will get through this life unscathed. We all have our falls and our faults. We will all fall short from time to time. The most important thing is to keep rising. Keep rising and heal from your stumbles. Do not stay down. Do not be afraid.

Remember that God is always calling us forward, on to something greater. We answer that call with our life and with our love. This glorious journey of ours is everlasting. Do not be afraid. Amen.