We started our service this morning with Christ is Risen and followed it immediately with Jesus Christ is Risen Today!  This was in response to the choir’s introit By man can death, by man came also the resurrection from the dead!  And we proceeded to keep that theme in our scripture readings.  For some of you this is the norm.  What else would you expect on Easter?  Upbeat! Good Music!  Praise! The sweet scent of the special flowers that permeates the sanctuary!  And a feel good sermon so we can go home and have a great family day. This is as it should be!  It’s the customary, the usual, proper thing to do on Easter.

Nearly two thousand years ago Mary Magdalene left early in the morning to do the customary, ordinary, proper thing for the burial of a good friend.  We don’t know for sure why she was there so early, but the account of this event in Luke says she and others prepared some spices to take to the tomb.  They took the spices that morning which appears to be nothing out of the ordinary.  They were simply doing what a good friend would do.  But when they got to the tomb, God broke in on the ordinary!  Jesus shatters their expectations.  The stone was rolled away, and the body they had come to anoint was gone!  They were scared!  I imagine a rush of thoughts went through their minds; who took the body? What have they done with it?  In fear Mary Magdalene ran to tell the disciples.  It was not a run of joy!  It was a call for help!

Are we prepared for God to break into our ordinary?  Can Jesus shatter the expectations of our predictable, usual world?  Following this empty tomb the disciples experienced one surprising event after another: ten different appearances are recorded, how many in total we have no idea.  They included a baptism of fire, breakfast on the beach, a walk on a road, and a meal with a couple of friends.  The book of Acts is a recounting of this new life following the resurrection.

In the passage we read today we see another example of the witness to the resurrection.  Peter finds himself talking to a Roman centurion, a non-Jew.  Cornelius had sent for Peter after having a visitation of an angel or a man in shining clothes.  The man told him that his prayers had been answered, and he was to send for Peter.  When Peter arrives he learns of Cornelius’ experience, and then Cornelius says: Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.    

In order to know what Peter was commanded to say, we have to go back in the story to discover what had happened to Peter before he met Cornelius.  Peter had been on a rooftop and had fallen into a trance.  In this trance four footed animals, reptiles, and birds were presented before him with a command to get up Peter. Kill and eat.  Surely not, Lord!  Peter replied.  I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.  The voice spoke to him, do not call anything impure that God has made clean.

Can you imagine what a bind that put Peter in?  On the basis of a trance he was to radically depart from the teachings of scripture that had guided Jews for centuries.  The book of Deuteronomy was to be ignored in  favor  of a message that came through a dream-like experience.  Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.  And now, Peter is standing in front of a gentile, Roman, who did not belong to the children of Israel.  He was one who had been considered unclean.  And Peter declares, I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accept those from every nation who stand in awe of God and do what is right.  What a radical, revolutionary statement!  Peter, a leader among the apostles, going against Jewish tradition and teaching!  His message is not only universal in scope - but putting that idea into action with Cornelius - must have shocked the early Christians. And he puts his actions and his ideas to work in the context of the importance and significance of the resurrection!  Once again Jesus shatters the expected, the ordinary.  The resurrection brings in a new day, a new reality. 

So are we prepared to have God break into our world with a new idea?  A new reality?  With the possibilities for new understandings of his inclusive love?  Is the Spirit able to work in us and bring about some vision of God that might be different, even opposite of what scripture says to us today?  I think this is THE MOST FRIGHTENING thing about this experience of Peter.  A message in a trance overruled what scripture had said for years.  How would I handle that?  Peter maintained a high regard for scripture as I and II Peter demonstrates.  Yet he knew that Christ was the ultimate authority, not a book.  When God sends a messenger that is paramount!

What complicates the matter is when Christians with differing points of view claim that the Spirit informs them of what they believe.  A good case in point is our involvement in Iraq.  People  of  differing opinions both claim these opinions are informed by their religious faith and more specifically their understanding of what God would have them do.  Some Christians declare the Bible speaks against our involvement there, and they are convinced that the Spirit bears witness to them regarding this conviction.  Others are equally convinced that we are right in effort to change Iraq, and that we are about God’s work in a particular way. 

Another case in point is that scripture has been interpreted for a long time, and still is by some, to say that women should not have authority over men in the church.  And certainly they should not be ordained.  But we have ordained women for years now:  Deacons for 100 years, Elders for 75, and Clergy for 50!  We believe the Spirit leads us to different understanding of the role of women.  We hold a high view of scripture but are persuaded that God is more inclusive and welcoming of all.  In fact, this passage suggests that there is NO human condition that limits our access to God.  God accepts those from every nation who stand in awe of God and do what is right. 

And finally, of course, is the ongoing debate regarding the ordination of homosexual persons in our denomination.  Both sides of the issue are attempting to be faithful to what they perceive God is telling them.  And both sides are equally convinced that the other side is wrong and is not listening to God, as they should. 

This passage reminds us that God loves all of us – regardless of what side we take on issues.  And we are challenged to do the same.  That does not keep us from continuing to press for the changes we seek.  It is important  for  you  to  know that we are laying ground work now to help our Presbytery address the issue of ordaining homosexual persons by sending an overture to the General Assembly of 2006 and then to support the outcome of that overture in our Presbytery.  The next two years are very critical in this effort, and we will need everyone’s help to make it a successful endeavor.  You will be called on in the next few weeks to assist in this effort.  It can be a concrete way for you to bear witness to the reality of the resurrection.  But let us remember to live in the reality that God does not show favoritism but accepts us all. 

All of the above situations deal with corporate issues.  But perhaps there is something in your personal life that needs a new perspective.  It needs God breaking in to bring about a new reality.  Maybe it’s a troubled relationship with a spouse, a child or a friend.  Maybe it’s an internal struggle - an addiction that is controlling you.  Alcohol or drugs or gambling can have a strangle-hold on us.  Is there a huge rock that needs to be rolled away in order for you to live?  Peter was open to a new reality, to new possibilities.  The old, the customary predictable life was gone.  The new had come.  Jesus says, Behold I make all things new!  This Easter let us look at one another and ourselves and hear Peter’s words: I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts those from every nation who stand in awe of God….  May we have the courage as Peter did to witness to the resurrection by demonstrating a new day has begun.  We too might be frightened as those who went to the empty tomb.

The first Easter morning was one of sadness, then fear, that became confusion and bewilderment.  It was not a day of joy as it has become for us.  Easter  for us has become a day of celebration.  A day of new life!  It is filled with hope and expectation.  What is God going to do next?  This past year we have had our share of disappointment and setbacks. 

Yesterday I visited the National Underground Railroad Museum. I was reminded that slavery in the Americas existed for 400 years!  How many must have wondered whether freedom would ever come.  But God broke through, and eventually the church became one of the tools used to bring liberty to the slaves.  God continues to call out to the church to bring in a new day. 

The Easter story reminds us that God is still in charge.  Just when things look the bleakest – spring breaks in, new life begins.  Just when we think oppression will never end, God breaks into the ordinary.  It has been a long hard struggle for homosexual persons and their friends in trying to gain full acceptance in society and in the church.  Let us not lose heart for God changed the heart of feisty Pete – and God is still in the heart business.  There is hope!  There is new life.  Let us be looking for God to break into our ordinary, usual world! It happened to Peter, it can happen to us!  Thanks be to God.  The resurrection of Jesus is life giving!