Easter Vigil 2014

+ Several years ago, a 9 year old girl asked me why we go through Holy Week every year. After all, she said, we know it works out in the end! Of course we do know how the story ends and tonight we stand at the dramatic and glorious climax of the Holy Week Drama—an empty tomb, a risen Christ—but, as I told that young lady a few years ago---we must walk through the drama of Holy Week each and every year because although the story doesn’t change, we do. We need the reminder, we need the journey. To paraphrase a history professor I had years ago, why does history repeat itself? Because people change. We need the same old story to guide us in the new varied and divergent paths our lives take. We change, God doesn’t. We forget, God remembers. We stray, God remains steady.
And so we journey….from the triumphal march into Jerusalem, to the loneliness and despair of the garden, the bitter trial, the agony of the cross, the silence of death and finally, the joy of resurrection. What a walk!
Tonight we heard the story of salvation. From the first glimmer of new light we heard how God has, always and forever, saved us from our darker selves. From the Red Sea to the dry bones, from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, from Gethsemane to Calvary, from life to death and life again, God has reached out to us and for us.
Through the miracle of Easter we’ve been given, in clear and certain terms, A New Life in Christ. Well, more specifically, tonight we've been reminded of the new life in Christ given to each of us at baptism. In a few moments, we'll renew those baptismal vows, we’ll be reminded that we’re marked, sealed as Christ's own. Forever. Then, strengthened by this knowledge we’ll go out from here committed to seeing Christ in all whom we encounter.
Why do we do this every year? Why must we repeat the history of the past two thousand years, year in and year out? Because we get lost. Because we forget. Because throughout life we all experience our own personal Holy Weeks, our own moments of doubt, despair, loneliness and fear.
I tried to tell that 9 yr old this; that her life will have ups and downs and that by remembering the lessons of Holy Week, she'll be better equipped to deal with the peaks and valleys of life, I hope she remembers it.
So, my brothers and sisters in Christ, what has Holy Week taught us?
What does this journey, from Bethany to Jerusalem , from Caiphas' prison to the hill at Calvary, from denial to doubt, from cross to tomb, from the death of Jesus back to life again,  teach us?
Palm Sunday: triumph has different meanings. I don’t think anyone really knew what to expect when Jesus marched into Jerusalem. No doubt many of the disciples thought that in Jerusalem, Jesus would topple the civic and religious structure of the day. I’m not sure any of them thought victory could come from the cross and the tomb. We cannot expect that the victory of  life will always look how we think it will. Sometimes victory comes swaddled in rags, born in a barn and killed like a common criminal.
Maundy Thursday. It’s important to take time for fellowship. Sit with family and friends—break bread together. The bonds formed over the dinner table are fierce and will hold, come what may. Sometimes, words are not needed. Sometimes those we love simply need someone to sit with them, to bear witness to the pain they are enduring. We can’t take pain away from others, but we can be a silent witness. My friends, never underestimate the power of your presence.
Good Friday: There will be times when our beliefs will be challenged, when we'll  be tempted to deny what we believe to be true and right because it isn’t popular or it’s too scary to stand up for what we believe. Folks, stand up for what is right as best you can, and when you falter-- and we all falter-- remember that God stands at the ready, waiting for you—for all of us-- to come to the home of God, where forgiveness always reigns.

Holy Saturday. Where is God?
There are days when we feel utterly alone and bereft. Know that deep within that sadness, at the very bottom of the well of loneliness there’s a small still voice weeping with us and for us, sharing in our pain. You may not feel it, but know that it is there and that you can count on it. None of us is ever alone, no matter what.
Easter—the Resurrection— Just as quickly as we find ourselves in the depths of despair we will be relieved and released from the pain. Suddenly it will be gone. The sadness will lift and joy will again reign. That's the journey of Holy Week, it's the journey of our lives---we will have ups and downs. We'll have our share of Easter joys and Good Friday losses. But---and this is the most important lesson any of us can take from our Christian journey----Holy week always ends in Easter, Darkness always gives way to light, and sin always loses out to grace and truth and love. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia ---The Lord is Risen Indeed!+