But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you . . ." (Matt. 28:5-7a)

Christians are called “an Easter people.” We live in the truth of the resurrection, and how because of it we are changed. Having been baptized, we are made holy through the resurrecting love of Jesus Christ; cleansed from whatever has sullied our life. Through his love in our lives we can sing “Halleluiah!”, we can know and experience forgiveness with God and each other; we can experience healing in all its fullness, grace sufficient for all of life, and the peace of Christ which measures beyond understanding. Because of Christ’s resurrection we are forever changed.

But that is not enough. It is not enough for us to sing, “Halleluiah!” in our church pews on Easter morning. Something is required of us; we are to “go and tell”. On that first Easter morning the disciples, women and men alike, were told “he is not here; he has been raised,” and then were instructed to go and tell the others.

Time and again I hear people say, “Well, I try to show God’s love.” “I don’t want to be like those Christians who shove Jesus on others, so I don’t talk about him, I just show him to others.” Friends, what if God’s angels had not spoken to Mary, to the shepherds, or to Joseph? What if the angel and Jesus had not spoken to the disciples on Easter morning? What if all along in Jesus’ ministry he had not spoken the word of God to others, had not said out loud, “For God so loved the world . . . ?” Would we have heard the good news?

It is not enough to just show God’s love; we must also tell of God’s love. In this new life we have been given, God requires us to share the good news of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace. If we are truly changed by God’s resur-recting love, our grateful response will also include telling others what Jesus means to us, how his love has impacted our life, and how his love for all of creation can change the world. But that change will forever be made more diffi-cult if we are silent.

Sisters and brothers in Christ “go and tell!”
Pastor Sue