Yes, even here, even in our beloved Pymble congregation, we d probably like to see and experience a bit more resurrection life.

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1 Luke 24: Pymble Telling our story These resurrection stories in the weeks following Easter have been sort of taunting me lately. I mean, I have a hankering; some deep longings for some new life! and I wonder if you might feel the same? Could you do with some resurrection life? Personally, we go through ups and downs in our lives, don t we? we can feel good and positive about our life and then suddenly our sense of well-being can take a nosedive; family relationships that one moment seem strong and robust seemingly out of nowhere get the wobbles; we have a strong sense of who we are in life and a realistic appraisal of our achievements, and then something happens to undermine those feelings. We are not always the strong, confident people we like other people to think we are. We would all like a little bit of resurrection certainty; resurrection strength and power in our lives. The Church could also do with some fresh Easter life, couldn t it? If we are honest, the Western Church is holding its own at best, and over the longer term some of our structures are clearly dying. I understand there is significant Christian revival in China with millions of people turning to Christ against the spiritual barrenness that has been the Chinese way of life for so long, but this has little impact upon us here in Australia and seems a long way from our experience. All the activity from Presbytery and Synod about congregations looking at how we might work together and the possible rationalization of our resources, is a response, at least in part, to the slow demise of strong local congregations. Yes, even here, even in our beloved Pymble congregation, we d probably like to see and experience a bit more resurrection life. And surely our world is in stark need of the new life that flows from the Easter Jesus. What a sad and sorry story we seem to have written for ourselves at this particular point in human history with religious fundamentalism giving birth to terrorism, climate change threatening great dangers, massive and growing gaps between the rich and the poor of the world, combative politics producing policy stalemates, leadership in church, business and politics that seems to be about power and self-service rather than the common good, and extinctions of species owing to human ignorance and pride (I m reflecting here on the fact that this week the Western Black Rhino

2 has been named as officially extinct. This is partly the result of a large spike in demand from Asia where the horn is seen as an expensive status symbol and used as a hangover cure among the image-conscious young and wealthy despite the fact that it doesn t work.) Yes friends, whether it is our personal lives, in the Church or looking at our human activity worldwide, I think we all agree we need a stiff dose of resurrection transformation. As Luke presents the Easter story, when the women went to anoint Jesus body on Sunday morning the tomb was already empty. They received news from 2 angelic messengers that Jesus had risen from the dead and they ran back to tell the other disciples, who frankly thought they were out of their minds. Peter ran to the tomb to see for himself and also found it empty. Later, 2 other disciples who had been walking to Emmaus, had been joined by a mysterious stranger who warmed their hearts as he spoke about the scriptures and then broke bread with them. It was only after he vanished that they realized that they d been with the risen Jesus all that time. We also hear second-hand that Jesus had appeared to Peter. So with all these appearances we might think it is surprising, that the group of them are still animatedly discussing what was going on. They still weren t really sure anything of substance had occurred. And yet into that uncertain and questioning group walked the risen Lord, offering them his peace and assuring them that he was alive again even eating a piece of fish as if to prove the physicality of his risen life. Jesus wanted to assure them of his risen reality. I don t think much has changed. Jesus still wants to assure us of his risen reality. And it is still to the doubtful, questioning and uncertain ones that Jesus reveals himself. Indeed it is often in our own moments of darkness and struggle that a whiff of resurrection restores our strength enabling us to find our feet and walk on. Even when Jesus did appear to the disciples they were slow to understand. Let s note the range of responses from the disciples over a few short verses. They were: startled, terrified, thought they were seeing a ghost, frightened, doubting, joyful, disbelieving, wondering and many of these all at once. The resurrection is such a new thing, such a jarring event to our sensibilities, it is understandable the first disciples struggled to take it on board even with the evidence standing in front of them eating a piece of fish.

3 There was no harsh rebuke from Jesus; just encouragement to trust and to get ready for the next stage in their lives. It is understandable too if we also take some time to work through our questions and doubts about the Christ s resurrection and what it means for us today. One of the truths that might help us in the road to Emmaus story, and is implied in today s passage too, is that often the risen Christ is best recognised in hindsight. Perhaps at the time there was sensory overload for the disciples and their emotions were overwhelmed. But in looking back they were able to recognize Christ s presence and understand what he had been teaching them. Surely too, it is implied that the disciples were able to take on board more of what Jesus had said to them as they discussed and talked about their experiences together. We often say today we only have 20:20 vision in hindsight and we say that as a criticism of our poor awareness in the present moment. But this story affirms that hindsight is often the way we actually learn and understand more deeply especially in these less concrete areas of life in matters of God and of Spirit. It is as we reflect on incidents and experiences that new insights come: - maybe seeing the kindness someone was offering while our focus was elsewhere; - perhaps recognizing not just the beauty of nature but the deep sense of God s peace that it brings to you; - maybe identifying what or who it was that brought a surge in hope when you felt all was lost. These are some of the ways the risen Christ is amongst us, but that without hindsight, we might miss them. Yes we need a dose of resurrection, and we are encouraged to keep our eyes open both in the moment and in hindsight. Jesus seems intent on 2 things in these verses: to show himself as alive from the dead, and secondly to prepare the disciples for what lay ahead. I can almost see Jesus with a chalkboard as he spoke to them Thus it is written he says as he taps the board, that the Messiah must suffer he ticks the box; and to rise from the dead on the third day he ticks that box and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be preached to all the nations. He leaves that box unticked as he casts his eyes over the group of disciples, thus giving them and the Church their one true role. It is our job to tell the story of Jesus. It is our job to proclaim repentance and forgiveness. And I know that fills us with fear and even loathing but stick with me Let me read a paragraph from a book I have been reading John Carroll s The Existential Jesus a fascinating and disturbing book in some ways.

4 John Carroll is a sociology professor from Melbourne with a very strong interest in Jesus and his impact on our Western civilization, though in his own words he himself is not a practicing Christian. As such he may be able to see with a clarity that some of us as insiders now lack. He says this: The waning of Christianity as practiced in the West is easy to explain. The Christian churches have comprehensively failed in their one central task to retell their foundational story in a way that might speak to the times. They have failed at what the ancient Jews called midrash the art of reworking stories so as to bring them up to date. The church-jesus is a wooden residue of tired doctrine about a benevolent and omnipotent Lord God up above, the Trinity Holy Communion and [promises of life after death] little of which has cogent mainstream resonance today. 1 It might smart to hear such a critique but we must recognize some truth in Carroll s assessment. We have failed to tell a compelling story about Jesus to our rapidly changing culture. So as we conclude today let us think about making repentance and forgiveness of sins a compelling message for your neighbours and mine. Acknowledging the dreadful history of preaching that has used these words as weapons and to threaten people s eternal destiny, let us begin by noting that there are other ways to translate the Greek words. Repentance simply means seeing with new eyes or to have a new perspective. And so to proclaim repentance to our friends and neighbours means we can offer an invitation to see the world in a fresh way: Repent! (we may not use that word) see life as a gift, not a burden. Repent! Change your mind and see God s gracious hand in the beauty and creativity of the world. Repent! And see Jesus not just as an interesting historical preacher, but the one who most clearly reveals what life is all about. Repent. See anew. Change your default settings. Make the paradigm shift. And see the hope that God offers to you and all the world. We have to admit this will probably resonate a little better than, Stop sinning or you ll go to hell! Or what about forgiveness of sins? Again the Church has tended to see this in terms of morality but it has a far wider set of meanings, including being set free, making whole or restoring something awry in our being. To a culture that seems to be constantly spending money and chasing experiences to feel alive or validated or to fill up something missing in their lives, to offer a new type of wholeness might touch something within people. To proclaim that they can be set free from the pressures and expectations 1 John Carroll. The Existential Jesus. Scribe 2007 p.7

5 of our society will be for many good news indeed. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that the gospel really is good news for ourselves as much as for our friends and neighbours. Let us commit ourselves afresh to living and sharing this type of Christian faith not a set of doctrines to accept; not a list of behaviours to follow or avoid, but a vitality of life that flows from the risen Lord himself.