Rev. George Miller
April 16, 2023
Matthew 28:10-20
This morning we come to our final reading from Matthew and it is a
brilliant piece of writing.
This telling of the Resurrection is rooted in the pain and trauma of the crucifixion.
This is not an Easter story filled with the pleasant comfort of pastels
or anchored by amnesia.
It is a story of deceit, fear, doubt.
Yes- the women met Christ and worshipped at his feet, but they needed
the reminder to not fear.
Yes- the guards saw the stone roll back and the earth beneath them quake,
but they still
act as puppets for the powers that be.
Yes- the disciples meet Christ on a mountain in Galilee, but now there
are 11 when there once was 12, and some are filled with doubt.
Matthew takes an extraordinary tale and roots it in human emotion.
First, why did some doubt? Well-
why wouldn’t they doubt?
About 7 days ago they ate their last meal with Jesus, then watched as folks
came for him with swords and clubs.
Judas commits suicide.
6 days ago their leader was naked, his head shredded with thorns, publicly
assassinated, and buried.
3 days ago the women tell them the tomb is empty.
Imagine you’re one of the 11- the trauma you just witnessed.
Not only have you experienced someone you love needlessly dying, now you
wonder “Am I next? Will they come for me
if I dare continue his ministry?”
Of course some are in doubt. Don’t
think for a second that the Resurrection totally took away the trauma of Good
Friday.
Regardless of the empty tomb, what happened on Friday still happened and
no amount of good news can wipe away that pain.
Of course some are in doubt; they are in self-preservation mode.
Today’s story is rooted in the reality of death and what happens when we
lose someone we love.
There is another brilliant thing that Matthew does. When he could’ve said “The disciples went to Galilee”
he says “The 11 disciples.”
One reason is to remind us of the trauma they endured, and that Judas
took his life.
But another reason
could be this- now there are 11 disciples, and they need one more. And the 12th disciple could be YOU.
After hearing all about Jesus, how he taught, fed, healed, cared about
compassion, used his hands- are you willing to be the 12th
disciple? Are YOU ready to
follow Christ Resurrected?
If so, if you are ready, even if you are scared, even if you have doubts, even if
you’re dealing with your own trauma, your own loss, then
go to the mountain in Galilee and there you will meet
him.
And in what is perhaps the real brilliance of Matthew 28- what mountain are
we to meet Jesus?
In the Gospel of Matthew there are at least 5 mountains.
The mountain of Transfiguration.
The mountain of feeding.
The mountain of prayer.
The mountain of learning.
The mountain of temptation.
Which mountain are we to go to meet the Resurrected Christ?
Matthew never says, which means no matter what mountain we choose and no what
mountain we face, Christ will be there.
Matthew 4- The Mountain of Temptation.
This is where Jesus is all alone and evil tries to tempt him. “All of this I will give you if you only worship
me.”
Do you know what it’s like to be tempted, have evil whisper in your ear,
desire quick fame or a fix?
The Resurrected Christ will meet you there.
Matthew 5- Sermon on the Mount. Jesus
calls us to love our neighbor, pray for our daily bread, nor worry too much
about tomorrow.
This is the mountain in which Jesus says “Blessed are you who mourn, for
you will be comforted.”
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be
called children of God.”
Are you currently in mourning the death of someone you love?
Do you try your best to do good? Do
you struggle with forgiving those who have hurt you?
Worry a lot about tomorrow?
Then this is the mountain that the Resurrected Christ will meet you.
Matthew 14, while Jesus is grieving the death of John the Baptist, he is
tired from feeding the 5,000, he goes up a mountain all alone so that he can
pray.
It is just him and God, one on one, replenishing his soul, recharging his
battery.
Have you ever felt burned out? Do
you know what it is like to be sooo exhausted because you do do do for everyone
else?
Do you know what it’s like to have your heart broken and you just need to
be alone?
Then this is the mountain that the Resurrected Christ will meet you.
Matthew 15- the Feeding of the 4,000.
Jesus climbs up a mountain and folk follow him, placing the lame, the
blind at his feet.
He bring wellness to them. In his
compassion he notes they are hungry and there is little food.
With just two fish and seven loaves of bread, Jesus has the people sit
and makes sure every single one of them is fed and filled.
Have you ever been hungry? Craved something
more?
Have you ever been made to feel lame, blind, or treated as if you are
mute and your words don’t matter?
Then this is the mountain that the Resurrected Christ will meet you, make
you whole and fill your belly.
Matthew 17, the mountain where Jesus is Transfigured. This is the place of sheer holiness, wonder
and splendor, where the sacred is so tangible you want to stay there forever.
That time in worship you got shivers when you heard Carnide sing. That time you couldn’t help but smile seeing Ari’s
face glow.
That moment the liturgist spoke so deeply from their heart.
Or those moments you’ve had with family, at a meal, on the beach, with
your spouse in which you felt the presence of God so thick, so heavy, you never
wanted to leave.
This is a mountain you can meet Jesus.
Then there is one more mountain- the mountain we are on right now- the
Mountain of Resurrection.
This is the place we go when death, trauma, and loss have entered our
lives. This is the place we go when injustice
and cruelty seem so real.
This is the place we go when there has been trauma and heartbreak.
This is the mountain we bring our pain, our confusion, our loss,
our doubt, our tired, weary bodies,
and we say to the Resurrected Christ “Speak to me. For I am empty and full of uncertainty.”
And Christ says “I AM. I AM with
you, always. I AM with you always, until
the end of time.”
And we discover that this is so.
We discover that there are so many, many mountains, that there are so, so
many places in which Christ can actually meet us.
It's beautiful. It’s heartwarming. And it’s encouraging.
For no matter if the mountain we are on is one of temptation, teaching,
recharging,
healing, hunger,
high holiness, or post-trauma,
we know that Christ is with us,
and because of the Resurrection,
we are NOT alone.
Amen and amen.
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