April 12th Service
On Line Service due to COVID-19 Pandemic

Saint John’s Pulpit (April 12 - , Easter Sunday) – "New Vision through Resurrection" Colossians 3:1-4

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4 NRSV

So If You Have Been Raised…

Happy Easter! I never imagined that this year Easter service could be through on-line. As we have done before, I expected to enjoy wonderful music, beautiful baptism and welcoming new membership. Yes, sweet smell from Easter lilies too! However, this year 2020 Easter came to us quiet differently. It has been almost one month since we have not had in-person services. Did T.S. Eliot (1888-1965) know that how’s going to be April 2020 when he said, "April is the cruelest month?"

However, it is Easter Sunday. The greatest news of Jesus’ Resurrection should be ongoing. The only difference is we are asked to share this good news with others in our own place. Let me ask a question. What did this Pandemic bring to your life? Among lots of ideas, many of you might think of this question- what am I going to do after this Pandemic? Before and after the Pandemic, we feel a change of life perspective (and attitude) in our life.

Ultimately, it made us raise a question about life. In the 21centrury, amidst of high technology and affluence, we are endangered by one invisible virus. It is not matter of bombs, terrors, and wars. By a single virus, we are now witnessing that how the world could be collapsing down quickly. Going to grocery requires our huge courage and a level of boot camp stuffs. We have no idea when this Pandemic will be ended. However, we agree that we got a new insight to see our life. What is it? Life is very limited. Life is unpredictable. We need to depend on the unlimited of love and grace of God.

Many people worry about churches after the Pandemic. Many clergy are stressful how to rebuild church. Before the Pandemic, churches have lost Christians gradually. During the Pandemic, people are used to enjoy their worship in cyber space. To be honest I am afraid of churches after the Pandemic. Maybe you are too. But, when things are getting complicated, we need to go back to the Basic. What is our Basic value? It is Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Resurrection and Paradigm Shift

In the text today, we meet Apostle Paul’s wonderful discovery on Jesus’ Resurrection. Not only for Apostle Paul but also the first Christians in the New Testament, Jesus’ Resurrection was sensational, period. The Risen Lord brought a new vision to see life here and another life after this world to people seriously. Thus, people began to remind that Jesus is the only Savior to manage each of their lives. Instead of focusing on this world, they began to see value in the Heaven such as another chance, eternal life and a new hope of Resurrection in Christ. Yes, it was a Paradigm Shift!

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1 NRSV

The verse above requires our careful attention on Colossians 2:12.

when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:12 NRSV

Let's go back to our reality again. What do we expect? Of course, we want to be raised from this Pandemic. We have no idea when it is. But we will be.

As David mentioned in his Psalm 23, we all are walking through the darkest valley. After this valley, don’t you think that we would be more generous and less stressful or competitive? Life is too short to struggle with things on earth! There are more important values we appreciate such as faith, family, and friends. Ironically, we’ve taken them for granted, but we now are asked to value them. Thus, 'stay at home' direction tells us the right place where we should be. After Jesus' Resurrection, here we see Apostle Paul's single recommendation.

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2 NRSV

Likewise, after the Pandemic, we are asked to do the same thing. In spite of this beautiful lesson from the Bible, but our reality is not beautiful. Yes, we all know it. However, won't you be able to share things in the Heaven with those whom you meet day by day. Please express thankful heart each other. Encourage one another. Share your positive mind with people you meet. A Social distancing does not mean emotional distancing. A Social distancing never be faith / church distancing. Please be a good messenger for Jesus' Resurrection.

Although we feel that we stay in a tomb now, please remember this. The first sign to know Jesus’ Resurrection was from the moment when people found that the tomb stones had been rolled away!

They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”  4  When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. Mark 16:3-4 NRSV

It is Easter! Let’s celebrate the greatest victory over death and sin by our Risen Lord. Amen.