Hallelujah! Now What?

Micah 6:8

 

        Each gospel has its own version of what happened on this day we are celebrating. In Matthew, Mary witnesses the stone being rolled away. In Mark, the women encounter a messenger from the most high. In Luke, Jesus appears on the road to Emmaus just in time to share a meal. And then there is John.  Word had gotten out that the body of Jesus had been stolen. Peter and John rushed to the grave and found it empty. The text reads, “They believed and ran away.”  We quickly rush to the conclusion that they believed Jesus had been resurrected. I would like to suggest what they believed were the rumors flying around that the body had been stolen. Out of fear they ran back to Jerusalem and made plans to disperse. They knew it would not be long before the authorities would round up the disciples and be done with them.

Peter’s belief stemmed from fear, not faith. But Mary Magdalene stayed behind.  In the cemetery she encounters a man she assumes to be the gardener. Listen to her words.

“They have taken my Lord. Can you tell me where they have laid him?”

Is that the question Mary would have asked if she believed Jesus was alive? Looking at Easter from our perspective we want to scream at Mary, “Can’t you recognize the living among the dead? How can you not know you are talking to Jesus?” We’ve had 2,000 years of celebrations which always begin by singing, “Jesus Christ is Risen Today. Hallelujah!” We have no reason to doubt. We’ve read the book. We know how it ends. In the gospel of John, Jesus will appear in the Upper Room and later by the seashore. Peter and Paul will begin a new movement centered on faith inspired by the resurrection. 

So from our perspective this morning we will make three definitive proclamations. The first is “Hallelujah”! The second is, “We have heard the story and we believe”! The third and most important is, “Now let’s hurry home for that wonderful lunch which awaits us.”

But what if the whole point of the resurrection is Jesus doesn’t want us to go home? Peter made plans to return to Galilee when he believed the body of Jesus had been moved. But later, after that talk on the seashore, Peter gave up fishing altogether.

What do we believe about Easter that sends us beyond the safety of home? That is far more complicated than simply stating, “I believe Jesus died for my sins and was resurrected so I might go to heaven.” Perhaps, this Easter Morning, we should briefly return to Christmas and ask the critical question, “Why was Jesus born?”

Zechariah, the uncle of Jesus, believed the boy would reflect the tender mercies of God. Mary believed the boy would lift up the lowly and scatter the proud.

Why do we believe Jesus came? And more importantly, are our hallelujahs empty if they only take us home?

Seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus there was a man named Micah the Moreshite. We know nothing about the personal history of the man. All we have is that thin yet very thick volume that sits between the books of Jonah and Nahum. The book of Micah begins with a warning. “The Lord is coming down to be among you because of the great sins of the house of Judah and Israel.”

For the next five chapters Micah describes what has greatly displeased God. The people have neglected the poor. The king has put too much trust in weapons. The Temple is empty even on high holidays. When Micah finally took a breath the horrified people responded, “We had no idea God was so upset. What can we do to make everything right? What offerings can we burn? Does God want our first born? What must we do to show God we truly believe?”

Micah replied, “Do justice. Show mercy. Practice humility.” Doesn’t that sounds like what Mary and Zechariah were saying. Did the warning of Micah that God was coming down to walk among us actually manifest itself in the personhood of Jesus? Look at his words. How many times did Jesus say, “Do justice; Show Mercy; Practice humility.”

Last week we talked about humility. This week, just for a moment because we don’t want the ham to overcook, let’s imagine mercy as our faithful response to Easter.

I can’t think of many things more difficult than being merciful. We live in a world of winners and losers and usually this means one winner and 25 losers. Those of us who love baseball, and live outside of St. Louis, got caught up in the Chicago Cubs last year. They had not won a World Series in over 100 years. Then, on a cold night in Cleveland, they beat all the odds. In an extra inning seventh game they claimed the World Series crown. What about the Indians? They now hold the title of most consecutive years without a World Series. Sure they won the American League title. Sure they took the Cubs to seven games. But in our world of winners and losers, nobody outside Cleveland cares.

Mercy is hard. Being merciful sets us up for pain and ridicule. And worse, there are no “brownie points” for being merciful. Look at Jesus. How often in the gospels do we read the complaint, “Who is this guy? He eats with thieves and liars, and prostitutes and sinners. He must be a loser. Look where he hangs out.”

Yet Jesus continued to show mercy. Count the number of times Jesus exhibited compassion. Count the parables that speak of forgiveness. Even those who ridiculed Jesus were taken back by his concern. This should remind us that everyone, even the powerful, need some mercy.

I have a favorite song written a decade ago by Mary Gauthier. Rolling Stone magazine rates it as the 38^th saddest country song of all time. While that is quite a compliment in a genre where every single song is sad, Rolling Stone got this one wrong. Beyond the sadness is a longing for forgiveness, and hope. Listen to the words.

My father could use a little mercy now.

The fruits of his labor fall and slowly rot on the ground.

It won’t be long and he won’t be around.

I love my father and he could use some mercy now.

 

My brother could use a little mercy now.

He’s shackled to his fears and doubts.

The pain he lives in is almost more than living will allow.

I love my brother. He could use some mercy now.

 

My country and church could use a little mercy now.

Sunk in a poisonous pit it’s gonna take forever to climb out.

They carry the weight of the faithful who follow them down.

I love them both. They could use a little mercy now.

 

We all could use a little mercy now.

I know we don’t deserve it, but we need it anyhow.

We hang in the balance between hell and hallowed ground.

Every single one of us could use a little mercy now.

 

        God doesn’t see us as winners or losers. God just sees folks who need a little mercy. The good news is we who dare to shout “Hallelujah” on this fine Easter morning know we have been granted mercy. But what we too often forget is that Jesus invites us to be become merciful. It is so much easier to run home to the ham and biscuits. But is that what God really desires? Is that what we really need?

        On this Easter Morning we sang, “Hallelujah! Christ has risen.” But now what do we do?

Might I suggest the request of Micah and Jesus? Do Justice, Show Mercy, Practice Humility.          Amen.