From Lent to Easter Joy

Robert McCarty

Sermon from Christ Lutheran Church

Staunton, VA

April 19, 2020

From Lent to Easter Joy

A sermon on 1 Peter 1:3-9

1 Peter 1:3-9

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

John 20:26-29

26A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

We all have favorite stories from the four gospels: I like this story about doubting Thomas. I love how Jesus stretches his blessing across all time and space: “Blessed are those who have not seen but have come to believe.” There is a blessing for us today. 

But the lesson from First Peter struck my heart as I read it. Actually, here is the verse that caused me to open eyes and take notice: “In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials.” That describes my Easter right now and probably yours right now as well.  This verse caused me to stop, and double back, and read it again. Just like today’s gospel has the wonderful blessing that sounds like Jesus speaks directly to you and blesses your faith, this verse also strikes me as Peter reaching across time and space and speaking directly about our situation today. It is as if Peter is speaking about the transition this year between Lent and Easter, because I do not want Easter in the middle of an ongoing Lent.

We have just come out of a season of Lent, that felt like the most truest Lenten experience I have ever lived through. At times, I felt like I was with Jesus in the wilderness, or with the Israelites wandering in the desert. I thought about equating the Babylonian captivity with our stay-at-home captivity, but decided not. Yes, we are staying more at home, but very few of us reside exclusively at home. Most of us have a variety of conveniences at home such as heat, food, running water, television and internet to help us live out day to day.

Actually, I believe what set this Lent apart from other years was more widely experienced feelings of helplessness and vulnerability. First, because of the risk to our health and the health of those around us. Many people my age worry for our parents and yet can do little to protect them. Second, we cannot forget that more people now live with an economic risk that threatens the daily bread that we often take for granted. Twenty-two million people filed for unemployment in the last four weeks, that approaches somewhere around 14% of the workforce, with more filings coming. We all probably know someone who has lost their job or is struggling to keep their business running.

The season of Lent and the stories of Sunday worship in Lent gave expression to our vulnerability and helplessness. I think of the blind man, and the Samaritan woman at the well, along with Mary and Martha and Lazarus. Throughout all of these encounters, the consistent response to their vulnerability (as well as our helplessness) over and over again was Jesus can help, Jesus can help, Jesus can help, Depend on Jesus, Depend on God. 

Looking from the other side of Easter still mired in the pandemic, I find the best parallel is the gains and losses of the man born blind. How he gains his sight but loses his place in the Jewish community, but then gains a new place in the following of Jesus. The man born blind, his life changes irrevocably because of what happened. And as part of his life altering experience, he places his trust in Jesus. Moving forward, he will depend on God through Jesus the Son of God. The first Peter reading really helps me to cement the difference between Lent and Easter. Throughout Lent, our helplessness and our vulnerability helped me to give words for our dependence on God. That dependence on God has not disappeared. 

Peter’s words again with the verse that follows as well: “In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials,⁷so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” For me, this explains how Easter differs from Lent this year. Peter tells you that you can rejoice that you are dependent on God and on Christ. Too often we think of dependence on others as a sign of weakness. Instead, Peter describes this dependence on Jesus who sustains our faith through the fires as a gift for which you can rejoice. 

Consider daily bread as an example. We depend on God for daily bread and right now you are more aware than ever of the people who help place your daily bread on the table, grocery store workers, those who work on production lines, those who work at the distribution centers. Our communities have defined these folks as essential(and rightfully so). They are essential for the maintenance of life and health.  For their presence we give thanks and praise. We depend on God. and God responds through those around us. At times we overlook them, but now we see these connections as essential. 

God changes the world but not always how we expect. These current trials and tests of the world will still exist even after this pandemic begins to dissipate and fades into the distance. The world will be different, but more importantly God will make you different. God will make you stronger and that strength and that difference is good for the world.

First Peter calls on us to rejoice, not because the trials and testing has passed. Peter calls on us to rejoice because Jesus victory over death and our dependence on him is worthy of our thankful hearts and our praiseful songs. Dependence on God for life is strength not weakness. When you recognize that dependence, you see more of God’s blessings that surround you.

Amen.