Grace and Peace to You from the Holy Trinity.

Have you heard the Good News?

Jesus is Risen, he is Risen indeed.

Hosanna in the highest, Alleluia.

A very happy and joyous Easter morning to you.

I am excited to share the Good News with you.

Perhaps like me, you didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.

I was thinking ahead to Easter Morning and being with you all.

It is a joy to be together this morning.

Easter breaks into our lives with a risen Lord, with a promise that Jesus will always be there.

What appears to be a tragic end is in reality a beautiful beginning.

Let me tell you about another day that brings Joy to me on Easter.

Much like Jesus had disciples who were fishermen, I remember fondly the time I spent with my children fishing.

I have been fortunate enough to be invited to our family gatherings on Lake of the Woods every summer.

My step-mother has a cabin there on an island.

It has all the amenities of home with running water, a flush toilet, and comfortable beds.

Our trips there usually occur on one of the holidays; Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day.

There is no shortage of interest and we usually gather with about 18-20 people.

While this is a lot of people we surprisingly all get along.

The preparation begins with who is going and what we are going to eat.

Our biggest danger is crossing the larger sections of the lake in our fully loaded boats.

Once we arrive and check that the crib and dock is sturdy we begin the unloading.

For a short trip you would think we were moving in for the summer, not spending a few days.

The excitement is everywhere from selecting beds, to a quick pre-cleaning of the “clean” cabin for those little visitors, mice and such that have been rudely evicted with our arrival.

Soon plans are formulated and groups made to carry out various adventures, all of which revolve around who gets to go fishing first.

With two decent fishing boats and 18 people the decision is usually made that grandma and grandpa get to go out first.

My ninety year old step-mother is one of the best at catching walleye- especially when they are not biting.

Over the years my family usually defers the fishing or goes later in the trip when fishing has lost some of its luster.

I have been fortunate over the years to spend some quality time in the boat with my children and teaching them how to fish.

What began as sight seeing trips and lines “baited” with pretzels there was never a must catch fish attitude.

With all of the food we brought we never had to rely on fish for a meal.

Our time together was what mattered most.

As my kids got older Jack and Siri became my fishing buddies.

They learned how to put a minnow correctly on their hook and most importantly how to take a fish off once they caught one.

No longer did I have to be the one who did everything for them, they were fishing on their own.

Over the last few years as my kids became young adults my youngest Siri always wanted to be the first one out in the morning to go fishing.

This was actually an excellent idea because we would have time together with peace and quiet.

For this plan to work we had to get up early and be very quiet.

We shared the loft with my nephews, some on beds, some on cots, and others on the floor.

When the first light of the morning would brush across my eyes I was awake.

I knew that it wouldn’t be long before I would feel the gently shaking of my bed.

That was the signal that Siri was ready to go.

We quietly got up and got our things ready for fishing.

The night before I got our fishing gear ready and had a couple of snacks and water for us.

Stepping around and over people we made our way to the dock and put our things in.

It was just barely light and we were the only ones awake.

There was some work to do before we were free to fish.

I had Siri get in the boat and I untied it from the dock, carefully pulling it over the ropes holding the floating dock to the shore.

I grabbed the spare paddle and brought us out before starting the motor. It was hard to break the peaceful silence of the morning.

With a quick prime, and a turn of the key the silence was shattered with the bark of the motor.

Looking back at the cabin it felt like we were the only ones in the world.

We motored to our favorite spot and began fishing.

After many trolling passes we didn’t catch any fish so we tried another spot.

We weren’t discouraged because we were together.

On this day we wouldn’t catch any fish, but we experienced the importance of getting up and following our hearts.

We motored back to the cabin to a small welcoming party, that always assembled when any boat arrived, to the smell of coffee and mouthwatering aroma of bacon.

Soon we were asked how we did?

I replied excellent. But their question was about catching fish, not enjoying the gift of togetherness and creation.

Like Mark’s gospel that ends so abruptly there seems to be something missing.

How could the story end with the women fleeing in terror and telling no one? Maybe we can glimpse into their minds?

When Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James and Salome went to bed after Jesus’ crucifixion they must have had a plan to get up early.

They heard Jesus talk about resurrection and new life but what did that really mean?

When they left they had bought spices to anoint Jesus' body, they acted within their expectations.

In their mind Jesus was crucified and died.

The one they followed and ministered with in Galilee was dead and his body needed to be prepared.

So getting up on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.

The reality of the situation was as heavy as the stone that they thought sealed the tomb.

“Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”

To their surprise they looked up to see the stone rolled away.

Entering the tomb they saw a young man dressed in a white robe.

Mark writes this as if we are there with the women and we can’t help but wonder is this man actually an angel?

An “apostolos” , an angelic messenger who tells them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here.”

I can’t imagine the feelings they most have been having.

Torn between the horror and trauma of seeing Jesus crucified.

And now the emptiness of the tomb, the hollow feeling of complete loss.

But the man goes on with Jesus' promise to them, “Go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee, there you will see him, just as he told you.”

And the story ends, or does it?

We are left to discover what happened, even this morning.

Fortunately, we have the Good News because the women did tell those who really understood.

The disciples who were waiting in this space of liminality.

A here but not yet there time. Like being in limbo.

A time that is uncomfortable and even terrifying, but Jesus calms those fears.

We don’t have to be afraid and hide in bed.

We are invited to follow, to get up and go.

For the women and the disciples it was to go to Galilee where Jesus had been working to heal and teach.

In Galilee that was home for Jesus to appear to them.

On this Easter morning we get up to follow Jesus.

Not only today but everyday Jesus has gone before us as an expert guide for love.

When we go looking we will find Jesus.

Not the cross, not a stone tomb, not anything will keep us from Jesus.

Jesus brings us together everyday like he brought the women and disciples together in Galilee.

Just like my daughter and I have a special bond around fishing together.

Jesus has a special bond that we love one another.

Jesus has risen,, Jesus has risen indeed, Alleluia.

For this we can say “Thanks be to God!” Amen