So church buildings are locked. How strange…how scary. This virus has taken away so much of what we took for granted—going to worship, going to work, going to the mall, having coffee with the neighbors. In so many ways we need to adjust to our new reality—including not going to RLC on Roselawn Avenue. 

On that first Easter the women went to the tomb at dawn assuming that Jesus would be there. He was supposed to be there--they had placed his body there on Friday. But he was gone. All four gospels tell of the women’s and disciples’ amazement and fear. Jesus was not in the place they expected him to be.

Are we feeling similarly? Our patterns are disrupted. There is so much we don’t understand. Life seems out of control. We can’t find that familiar comfort from sitting at RLC and singing favorite hymns and hearing the Good News. 

Yet the best news of all today is that Jesus is not in a building. He is with us (remember Jesus’ words: “where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name I am there,” “I will never leave you nor forsake you”). When Jesus rose from death he broke all expectations and shattered normal life.

• Christ was not there!
• He was on the loose to bring peace and hope to all…forever.
• It was a new reality.

Our world is different. We need to adjust. We might be locked out of our church building but Jesus can’t be locked out of our lives. 

Today we continue to celebrate the new reality of Easter--that Jesus is not in a tomb, not in a building. He is in our hearts. His peace is ours. With him-- and with each other-- we will get through Covid-19. 

– Rolf Olson, Visitation Pastor

Prayer

Risen Christ, come. Surprise us with your resurrection power. Infuse us with your new reality. Amen.