RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD
April 16, 2006

Easter Vision
by Linda Kraft

John 20:1-18					

You probably don’t know the name Nikolai Ivanovich Bukharin. During his day
he was as powerful a man as there was on earth. A Russian Communist leader
he took part in the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917.  He was editor of the
Soviet newspaper Pravda (which by the way means truth), and was a full
member of the Politburo. His works on economics and political science are
still read today. There is a story told about a journey he took from Moscow
to Kiev in 1930 to address a huge assembly on the subject of atheism.
Addressing the crowd he aimed his heavy artillery at Christianity hurling
insult, argument, and proof against it.
	
An hour later he was finished. He looked out at what seemed to him to be
the smoldering ashes of men's faith. "Are there any questions?" Bukharin
demanded. Deafening silence filled the auditorium but then one man
approached the platform and mounted the lectern standing near the communist
leader. He surveyed the crowd first to the left then to the right. Finally
he shouted the ancient greeting known well in the Russian Orthodox Church:
"CHRIST IS RISEN!" En masse the entire crowd arose as one and the response
came crashing like the sound of thunder: "HE IS RISEN INDEED!"
	
I say to you this morning: CHRIST IS RISEN! (HE IS RISEN INDEED!).  I am
convinced!  I have faith that Christ was dead and he was buried. That I
believe. But, I also accept as true: He rose from the dead and will come
again in glory. (1)
	
Was my faith always this strong?  No.  Not by any means.  There were years
when faith meant little to me.  Church seemed like a place where only the
rich were welcome because they could pay the church’s bills.  Church was a
place where people used old-fashioned words that didn’t touch the world
where I lived.  Those were church words.  My world was full of street words.
	
My faith was weak, but God was strong.  I thought I had my future figured
out.  I even had a back-up plan in case Plan A didn’t pan out.  What might
happen if both Plans A and B failed, I didn’t even want to think about.
But, that’s what happened.
	
Even though my grandmother had taught me God loves all people at all times,
I had come to doubt that truth.  I had made plans and they weren’t working
out.  Instead, a completely unexpected vision was taking its place.  This
vision grew and blessed my life in many ways, beyond my wildest
expectations.

I’m not the only one whose life has been turned around, turned upside down
by God.  

I want to tell you about Andy.  One day as I was reading in my
church office the phone rang, and the man on the other end asked to meet
with me -- soon. We set up our meeting for the following afternoon, and I
didn’t give the matter much thought.  I figured maybe this stranger wanted
to talk to me about women not being pastors.  That wasn’t unusual,
especially since I was still kinda new in this small town.  But, as it
turned out, that wasn’t the case at all.
	
Andy arrived precisely at the agreed upon time.  We shook hands and as he
took the chair across the desk from me he couldn’t quite meet my eyes.  Then
he seemed to call on some inner strength and dived right into his reason for
this meeting.  He said he’d attended a couple funerals that I had led in the
past few months, dear friends’ final celebrations of life, and he knew he
needed to get something off his chest.
	
He said, “I’m 88 years old.  When I was a teenager I lived in the country
near this town.  That was when this church met out that way, too.  My father
was one of the founding members of this congregation.”
	
Well, that was news to me.  I’d never heard this family’s name mentioned
before.
	
He went on.  “My brothers and I were all confirmed in that little frame
church out in the country.  But, just after I was confirmed, the pastor
decided to move the congregation into the city.”
	
“Now, my father didn’t see any reason why that should happen.  The city
wasn’t a place to have a church.  It should be in a quiet place where people
can pray and not be bothered by the noises of the streets.  So, he forbid us
to attend church here from then on.”
	
Andy’s father was one of those “spare the rod and spoil the child” types of
patriarchs who expected to be obeyed, no matter how old his “children”
became.
	
“Well,” Andy went on, I was a teenager, so what did I know.  I went to
school and went to work and hung around with my friends and I didn’t really
need church anyway.  A few years later I married a nice Catholic girl and
she took care of religion for our whole family.  I didn’t have to think a
thing about it.”
	
Then, he looked me in the eyes and said, “But, my dear wife passed on a
couple years ago.  And I think it’s about time I start taking care of my own
soul.  I know it’s really late; and I’m sure God can never forgive me for
staying away so long.  But, I wish I could be part of this church again.  
It’d mean so much to me.”
	
What could I say to that?  “You sound like you’re really sorry you’ve been
away from the church,” I echoed.
	
“I am.  And I know there’s no forgiveness for me.” he confessed.  And, his
head hung in sorrow.
	
All I could do was sit there in silence wondering how to put what I had to
say next.  Then it hit me.  “Andy, don’t you know God’s just been waiting
for you all these years?  Jesus died and rose again for just this kind of
reunion.  Your forgive-ness has been waiting for you for decades.  Jesus
loves you and wants you to be here to share that love with others.” And, I
walked around that desk and gave him a great big bear hug!
	
Andy rejoined the church, and from that next Sunday on he was at worship
every week.  He baked pies for the potlucks and bake sales.  He anonymously
gave a large donation to the Sunday School so, as he said, the little kids
could know that God would always love them.  As his health failed and his
mind became foggy, his daughter would bring him to services, and soon she
too found a church home there.
	
Andy never tired of telling his story.  He would tell anyone who would
listen that getting a hug from his pastor that day was just like getting a
hug from Jesus!

Nikolai Ivanovich Bukharin had a plan.  He intended his fellow citizens to
put their faith in the State.  But, God had another vision.
	
Andy’s father had a plan for his sons.  His strong determination affected
Andy’s life for over 70 years.  But, God had another vision.
	
I had a plan, in fact more than one plan to make sure my life would turn
out just how *I* wanted.  But, God had another vision.
	
God’s vision for me led me to attend a teacher’s college where studying the
Bible was required.  Church attendance was expected and daily devotions were
compulsory.  My college sweetheart, Karl, and I married and moved to his
hometown after I graduated.  His family was a pillar of the congregation
there. Our church divided and Karl and I were instrumental in planning and
planting a new Lutheran congregation.  Karl felt called to study worship and
church history and while he was in seminary I discovered my own call to
ministry.
	
God’s vision was more powerful than my own.  The Truth of God’s love for
all people at all times has been my joy to announce for many years -- and I
hope, for many years to come.  Because, as long as I live I will proclaim
the good news of Jesus’ resurrection: CHRIST IS RISEN.  (He is risen,
indeed!)

(1)  http://www.eSermons.com.

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, for all people
according to their needs:

Lord of hosts, you are our God.  We have waited for you so that you might
save us.  You provide everything we need: home, family and friends, clothing
and food and blessings beyond measure.  You swallow up death forever and
promise us a place with you where your mercy will never end.  Let us rejoice
in your salvation.  Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.  (Isaiah 25:6-9)

Lord of abundant life, you have provided us with the greatest story ever
told, the life death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus the Christ.  Raise
up for your Church faithful leaders, willing volunteers and eager learners
so that we might joyfully proclaim your amazing vision of love for all
people to hear.  Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.  (1 Cor 15:1-11)

Lord of all nations, you sent your Son as judge of the living and the dead.
Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
Yet, WE often take judgment as our OWN privilege, deciding whom you should
love and whom you should reject.  Help us to overcome our prejudice and fear
and to live together with all people, each one redeemed by the death and
resurrection of your Son.  Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.  (Acts
10:34-43)

Lord of early morning and deep, dark nights, you alone can replace fear with
calm, grief with hope, sadness with joy.  Your are the way, the truth and
the life.  Each day we struggle to believe what the world tells us is an
impossible story.  You loved us and all creation so much that you redeemed
us all through the resurrection of your Son, Jesus.  Help us to overcome
doubt, to push away fear, to cling to your message of eternal love with our
whole being.  Strengthen our faith and keep us in your grace, and like Mary
Magdalene, give us courage to share your good news with each one we meet.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.  (John 20:1-18)

Steadfast Lord, your love endures forever. You are our strength and our
might.  You provide everlasting life.  Yet, in this life, your children
suffer pain in body, mind, and spirit.  We lift in prayer your hurting
children:
Are there others we should include in our prayers?
Help us all to live our lives in thanks for your precious gift of life  and
to rejoice in each new day you give us, even into eternity.  Lord in your
mercy, hear our prayer.  (Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24)

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your
mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen



Linda J Kraft, Pastor
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Trumbull, CT
203/372-8844(o/f)  203/881-5997(h)




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