Children of the Promise

«He is not here» said the angel to the women on this very first Easter Sunday. Those words are the heart of our faith – and an invitation to adventure, said Raphaël Picon in his Easter predication. He concluded with those words:

“Christianity was born on this Easter Sunday. We were born on this Easter Sunday. We are the children of the promise. We are the children of a foolish promise… Nobody, nothing can condemn us anymore to failure or despair. Christ stated the infinite worth of each of us. His predication makes up the whole flavor of the Christianity we love and we are part of. This Christianity transforms us into adventurous pilgrims, walking alongside the poet to roll away every stones of the tombs, ripping away the fascination of death and make life possible again”.

Life is given back to us, beyond death. “He is not here” – those words resonate in my mind as I remember Hugues Madesclaire, who left us two years ago this week. His life did not end at the doorstep of his unsolved untimely death.  The memories he left, the influence he had on those who got to know him mysteriously keep on nurturing the world of the livings. His tomb is empty as well. We will find his presence in the light of the Risen one.

Resurrection at Work

Resurrection will always be a mystery.  But, we know it when it happens. This is what Bruce Epperly wrote and if this was about Easter, Bruce was also reflecting on the resurrection that takes place in our daily lives.

The women who first witnessed the resurrection were left stunned and speechless. Still the empty grave offers new perspectives of hope and life. “the empty tomb portends an open future in which the Risen One goes ahead us as companion, guide, and inspiration,  wrote Epperly. I have seen resurrection in unexpected courage and surprising love; …in willingness to sacrifice for a great cause; and in the persistent quest for justice despite the odds”

Where did I see the resurrection at work this week of Easter ? During the service where we commemorated the Last supper and Jesus’ promise that our remembering Him would bring us closer to God.

When I shared a Seder meal on Passover night on Friday, with my Seattle family. I enjoy spending time with my loved ones! And I felt inspired by the exploration of the Exodus story, revisited with depth and significance. The Exodus story invites us to ponder on our freedom and the state of the world around us. That night gave me energy and joy in the midst of a marathon-week.

In a very full church on Sunday morning – the church is an old house built in 1949 that did not age that well, located on the Puyallup tribe cemetery. This church almost closed several times. But on that Easter morning 2012, families gathered and remembered a friend who just passed away, witnessed two baptisms, watched their children look for Easter eggs in the flowery ground, and prayed and worshiped together, celebrating the victory over death that keeps give meaning to our life.