The Rev. Robert Lundquist           Easter     3/27/05                St Paul’s, Ft Collins

Matthew 18:1-10   - Online Text -

About 17 years ago I was introduced, or in some cases reintroduced, to a body of literature that is often profound without being overly complicated.  My son was about 2 at the time and one of the books we spent a lot of time with was The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown.

http:/search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?pwb=1&ean=9780061074295

For me, this winsome tale captures an aspect of our Easter story – God’s persistent love.  Just like the baby bunny discovers that there is nowhere he can flee to or hide that will keep his mother from finding him, so we are reminded in the Resurrection that God will overcome death itself in order to love us.  Through prophets and sages, God has reached out for us.  We, in our sinfulness (literally “separation”), find ourselves too often running from Divine Love.  But God will go anywhere and do anything out of love for you and for me.

Our story – Jesus born in a stable, traveling the land to heal and to teach, arrested, tried, sentenced, put to death and rising from the dead – is the most incredible, unbelievable love story ever told.  It reminds us specifically of how far God in Jesus will go:  to Bethlehem, Samaria & Jerusalem; to lepers, cripples, the homeless and the dying; to Caiaphas, Annas & Pilate; to Golgotha; to hell and back – for you and for me.  The Good News is:  Jesus lives!

Jesus lives.  Not long ago and far away, not just then but now.  Christ is alive in your world today, and Easter is the proof.  You might try to ignore the living Christ for a time, but you cannot hide.  That’s the good news of Easter.  The loving arms of God in Christ will gently pursue you – through streams and mountains; through gardens and seas; through the air and even in the midst of the circus that is your life, Jesus is both far away and right at home.  No matter where you go, the Risen Christ is there.  God’s awesome resurrection love lives for you this day!  Alleluia!