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ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson's Easter
Message 2007
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"They found the stone rolled
away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the
body. ? Then they remembered his words." (NRSV Luke 24:2,8)
On the first Easter morning, the women entered an empty tomb
expecting to find Jesus. They were looking for the body of
Jesus, but were disappointed and perplexed.
Today, when we look for peace and there is no peace, we, too,
may wonder where Jesus is. When violence and wars escalate, we
may wonder where Jesus is. When hunger and poverty continue to
have a stronghold in neighborhoods here and around the world, we
may wonder where Jesus is. When we experience the emptiness of
the divisions among races, religions, and classes, our fear and
confusion can cause us to wonder where Jesus is. When we
struggle with guilt or shame, we may wonder where Jesus is. Like
the disciples of old, we miss the signs of God's presence in our
world.
In the dark days of perplexity and despair for the troubles of
this world, let us remember the hope of Easter morning. In the
dawn of Christ's resurrection, we rejoice that death and evil
did not have the last word: the tomb is empty! Christ is with
us, living among us and through us, announcing "good news to the
poor ? release to the captives ? recovery of sight to the
blind," freedom to the oppressed, and "the year of the Lord's
favor." (NRSV, Luke 4:18-19) Christ is with us as the word of
forgiveness is declared and the sacraments are received. Christ
is with us as we look for signs of Jesus in our churches and
communities and remember his words: "And, remember I am with you
always, to the end of the age." (NRSV, Matthew 28:20b)
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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