Join Their Voices

An Easter Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Eric L. Bodenstab

Peter began to speak!
The women said nothing.
This is the day that the Lord has made!
The women said nothing.
Paul proclaimed!
The women said nothing.

How can this be the end
of the story of God’s gospel?
Shouldn’t there be more
than silence and fear?
I don’t believe it.
I believe they were afraid, but…

Peter and Paul have nothing to say
unless the women said something.
Hope is dead
unless the women said something.
There is no Church
unless the women said something.
Easter means nothing
unless the women said something.

Mary, Mary, and Salome
were at Jesus’ cross.
They saw him die.
They saw where he was placed
and went there to do what had to be done.
They saw the stone was moved.
They saw the open tomb.
They saw the angel.
They heard the message.
They ran away in fear.
(Quite understandably.)
But they told no one
because they were afraid?

These three women
who followed Jesus through his ministry
to his last meal,
from court to court
to Golgotha and the grave,
who honored his life
even in death,
they were afraid
to share the good news?

This ending is for us
because we say nothing,
because we are afraid.

In a word full of pain,
we say nothing.
In a country full of partisanship,
we say nothing.
In a state full of anger,
we say nothing.
In a county full of poverty,
we say nothing.
In a city full of grief,
we say nothing.

This ending is for us
to help us see our fear
that keeps us from speaking.

You have heard the best news:
Death has been destroyed!
Even death cannot stop God’s love for us.
What chance do your sins have?

More endings were added
because the women said something.
Embrace voices on the margins
because the women said something.
There is hope, life, and Church
because the women said something.
Peter spoke and Paul proclaimed
because the women said something.

Join their voices.
Say something.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!