Living the Resurrection

Kristina Talbot reflects on living in a manner that reflects the hope of the Resurrection.

Each year, our church celebrates a diocesan approved outdoor Mass on the beach on Easter Sunday at sunrise. It is an incredibly beautiful experience to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord with a few thousand people in this expanse of space that differs from our usual pew. We arrived just before dawn under the cover of darkness with beach blankets and flip flops. And we waited as we participated in the Mass unfolding under tiki-torch lighting that becomes more and more illuminated as the Word was proclaimed.

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The visual impact of celebrating the Son of Man’s Resurrection while simultaneously watching the sunrise up over the ocean is powerful. This year, the timing occurred during the Eucharistic prayer, and it was stunning as the body of Christ became illuminated as the sun pierced through the distant horizon. Tears filled my eyes at this marvelous sight, and I became overwhelmed by the thought that it’s not “if” He is the Resurrection, but truly that He IS the Resurrection.

Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11: 25-26)

In this powerful passage at the raising up of Lazarus just as Christ reveals himself, he also asks Martha if she believes who He says He is. For me, standing on the beach reflecting on my life, I felt that burning question: "Do you believe this?"

Do you believe this even when your teenager is struggling, or when you have nothing left in your tank or you’re struggling with the health decline of a loved one? Do you believe this when your calendar is overwhelming you and there are too many tasks set before you? Do you believe this when it matters, not just in this moment but when it needs to be true or else all hope is lost? These were the questions swirling within this moment of wonderment.

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Embracing the hope, revelation and promise of Easter is remembering the entire reason we show up on Sundays. If it isn’t true, then we’ve no reason to wake up and join with others in worship. Since it is true, we’ve no reason to fear or be anxious about whether or not things will work out. Since it is true, we know that all things end in His Victory.

During Easter Season, we are given 50 days to absorb the miraculous events of salvation that occurred. It feels as though the Church in her wisdom recognized that we needed more than a moment time to absorb this great mystery as we soak in stories from Acts and are reminded time and time again of His promises fulfilled.

Martha responds to Jesus’ question by saying:

“Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” (John 11:27)

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It is of note, that Martha shares she has "come to believe." This allows room for our own journey of what it means to believe. For me, I am in the process of coming to believe the fullness of this profound mystery in new and deeper ways. The question “Do you believe this?” is worth contemplating because of how it changes everything if our answer mirrors Martha’s answer.

Standing on that beach, watching the sun come up over the ocean as the words of consecration were spoken as they have been now for almost two thousand years after these events took place how could it be anything but true? I had no other reason to be there with those gathered if not that we all agree that something happened so many years ago that not only changed human history but has also changed our lives.

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Since He is the Resurrection, I have come to believe that what He has said and revealed about Himself is true. The work of learning to live in a manner that reflects being an Easter people remains ever worthwhile and still very much in progress.

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