Mother Eunice's Easter Sermon, 2008
What is it that inspires us? What is it that lifts us up out of ourselves and gives us hope? What is it about the cross, a symbol of death, destruction, and humanity's determination to be grossly inhumane to one another? What is it about the cross that continues to inspire us to hope?
It is ironic that when humanity is faced with a catastrophe we rise to our noblest self and are inspired to reach out to others giving them life and hope. I think the way people reacted selflessly to rescue people from the Twin Towers on 9/11 is a classic example of this phenomenon. The way that people risked their own lives during World War 2 to harbor Jewish people from the Nazis is another example. It seems to me that when people have the most to overcome, humanity is given the grace to rise to the occasion and make the best of a terrible situation and find joy and hope.
The other day I was scanning the news on the internet and noticed that one of the television channels in England was going to show a documentary about two pairs of sisters who were all born and living with a very rare genetic disorder known as Harlequin Ichthyosis. For the most part this condition has been known as Harlequin Fetuses or Harlequin babies because until recently few born with this disorder had lived much past birth.
Simply, these children are born with an abnormal thickening of the skin which grows 14X the normal rate forming massive diamond-shaped thick scales from head to foot that tends to give off a reddish color. Eyes, ears, nose, and mouth may or may not be formed, or abnormally contracted. Needless to say, the deep crevices between the diamond patches all over their skin, creates the perfect setting for infection, which is why many don't live long.
Every day, just to survive, these little girls have to bath 3 times daily for 2 hours to soften the skin, scrubbing hard to remove as much of the hard extra skin as possible, and then cover their entire bodies in a thick layer of moisturizer. It is necessary in the afternoon and evening to do a 2nd and a 3rd "creaming" to keep the skin covered, soft, and protected from infection. Now you would think these children would be severely depressed, and yet in spite of all their suffering, these 4 little girls are alive, joking around, and thriving against all odds.
These girls inspire me. Why? Because against all odds they still find a way to feel and express joy despite their struggles. Their courage lifts me out of my troubles and gives me hope that I too can rise above whatever suffering I may have.
I'm sure some of you know folks like this. Folks who against great mental and/or physical problems persevere and continue to have joy and hope despite their obvious suffering. Their courage gives us courage, their joy gives us joy, and their hope gives us hope. I'm sure this is one of the reasons why so many people loved the book and documentary "Tuesdays With Morrie" about a man who was living with the challenges of Lou Gehrig's Disease or A.L.S. Despite his obvious limitations he lived his life with dignity, a sense of humor, and with faith and hope in God.
This is why looking at the cross is so inspiring for Christians. We know that Jesus understands our suffering because he suffered. And we know that when our heart is breaking, God is with us in that pain as well because He loves us and knows how it feels to have a broken heart because of how humanity has not only treated him, but his son as well. We know that we have hope despite all the suffering this world can thrust upon us. That is why Paul said "we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered, but in all these things we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us." Because Jesus overcame death and the grave we too can look at the cross, past our own experience of suffering to the suffering of Christ and his ability to rise above and beyond it. We know that because of what Christ has done for us we are eternally connected to God, and that he will never let us go and waits to comfort us in that heavenly country where there is no pain, or suffering, or sorrow. He never has abandoned us and never will. And this is why he returned to his disciples after he had risen from the dead so that they would not be overcome by their grief, but would have joy and hope no matter what persecution they might face in the future. No matter what would happen they knew, as we know, that Jesus would be with them and us always, even to the end of the ages.
And through the centuries, through the symbolism of the cross, through the witness of the Holy Scriptures, and the tradition to celebrate Easter, we too have been given a reminder that our sorrows, our weeping, may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning, as it says in the psalms. Just as God was there throughout His son's suffering, he brought his son to eternal joy, hope, and back to eternal life. And God will also lead us to the hope of the knowledge that whatever happens to us in this life, there is more. More joy, more love, more hope, more beauty, and eternal life. This is why the cross gives us hope and inspires us to press on, to persevere. Death and suffering does not have the final word in this life for the Christian. That is why John Dunn that great poet, priest was able to say:
"Death be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so, For, those, whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow, die not. Poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me." And he ends this poem with "One short sleep past, we wake eternally, and death shall be no more. Death thou shalt die."
That is why the cross inspires us and gives us hope; because Jesus, who was no liar or con artist, completed what he said he would do. He created an everlasting healing bond between God and all humanity that not even our own sinful nature or death itself could break. This is why Easter is different from any other day and greater than any other holiday we might celebrate. Yes we celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas, but it was because of the death and resurrection of Jesus that Easter gives us eternal life and therefore eternal hope.
So when you experience suffering, or are a witness to it, don't let it get you down or create a cynical nature within you. It is not that God has ever or will ever abandon you. Suffering is a temporary situation. In time, God's glory will be revealed in its fullness when we too, like Jesus will rise from our suffering to new life in the Kingdom of heaven. Though our temporary trials may seem insurmountable, there is a God who knows you, calls you by name, loves you, forgives you, and knows what it is like to suffer Himself because he did on the cross - but that isn't the end of the story. The resurrection of Jesus means there is always hope because of the promise of new life, that where He is we will be also. That is Easter hope!
That is why the great Christian martyrs of old could face being thrown to the lions, wild animals, and being burnt at the stake, but were able to sing hymns to God even as they marched toward their death. That is why little children suffering from serious and terminal illnesses can still find joy & hope because with God all things are always possible.
That is why Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. could say that he had seen the Promised Land, even though he knew people were practically lining up ready to shoot him dead. That is why Mother Teresa, even though she went through her own spiritual difficulties, still saw the face of God, and therefore hope in the face of the dying. She may not have been able to prevent people from suffering, but she was able to give them dignity and hope that there actually was a God that loved humanity deeply, regardless of their illness, or their social standing. That's hope. As a matter of fact, that is Easter hope! So remember, look to the cross! God will raise you up on eagle's wings, bear you on the breath of God, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of his hand.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen Indeed! Amen.
© 2008
