St. Matthew 28:1–10
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sometimes it appears that we’re living in a tragedy—I mean a tragedy like a play or a movie. And we know what that’s like right now, don’t we? Hundreds of thousands have gotten sick, and thousands have died. Things look dark, and no one seems to know for sure how much longer this could go on.
Two thousand years ago, on a Saturday night, it also appeared as if the whole world was in a tragedy. The sun had gone dark the day before. The earth had shook and rocks were split and the temple curtain looked like a giant cat had used it to sharpen its claws. And the Son of God, the One who spoke the universe into existence, was cold, lying in a tomb. How much more tragic could you get?
But then, in the middle of that cosmic night, came the decisive turn. A joyful surprise! A swift change. That’s the difference between a classical tragedy and a classical comedy. I don’t mean our modern idea of a silly comedy. The easiest way to understand the difference between a tragedy and a comedy in the sense of classical plays and stories, or Shakespeare and fairy tales, is to think of the drama masks. You know, one is a sad face and the other is a smiley face.
The shape of the sad mouth gives you the basic shape of a tragedy. The story begins with the main character rising to power and success. But then comes the turn and it’s his downfall. The story ends with the main character falling from grace, from power, falling to his doom and usually dragging everyone else down with him.
But the shape of the smile gives you the shape of the classical comedy. The story begins in a perfect, or nearly perfect world. Everyone is happy. And then something terrible happens—a child is lost, or lovers are separated. The story sinks down into a problem, and often it seems unsolvable. In fact, the most moving comedies are the ones that make you wonder, when you’re down in the dark depths… are we actually in a tragedy after all?
But then, something mysterious happens, something wonderfully unexpected! A decisive turn, a joyful surprise, a swift change. And there’s the upswing completing the other half of the smile, bringing the characters and you back to that happy world. Families are restored, lost children are found, lovers reunited… the dead are raised. What appeared to be a tragedy with the death of Jesus, turned out to be the most marvelous comedy, the most unexpected happy ending. And the same is true for all the stories of God’s people.
That’s the story the Easter Vigil has been telling you tonight. Out of darkness and chaos, God created light and life. In the midst of a worldwide flood, destroying all creatures, the Lord preserved a faithful few and kept His promise to the human race. Through the Red Sea, with a murderous pharaoh at their heels, God delivered His people and brought them to victory. Out of a burning oven, the Lord rescued His children and made His name glorious. And by the death of God, all death was destroyed. And by the resurrection of this Man, new life was won for all mankind. All the stories of God’s people are stories about God saving His people, saving them certain death and destruction, death and destruction they had deserved! But all of them surprises! Mysterious, happy, wonderfully strange and joyful stories!
And what about us? Is He going to do the same for us? What story are we in? Well, the reason He’s told you all those other stories is to show you what He can and will do for you! Time and again, He has proven His faithfulness. He will save you too. You are no less important to Him than Adam and Eve, or Noah and his family, or Moses and Israel, or the three young men in Babylon. You are sons and daughters of God, rescued, pulled up through the font into His kingdom! And we know that God is working all things together for the good of those who love Him. He’s writing the story, your story, and we can barely imagine the ending. So, if God is for us, who can be against us? He did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all! So, who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies—He’s the author of the story. Who is to condemn? Who’s going to force us into a tragedy? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God (Romans 8).
The story of Jesus is the greatest comedy of all time. The lost Child is found. The dead Son is raised. The Bride and Groom are reunited. We can’t be living in a tragedy, no matter how dark things look, because Jesus is risen! The only way to get into a tragedy now is if you write your own ending. If you walk away from God and the story He’s telling. That will end badly. But the God who created you, died for you, and rose for you, is still coming after you. He doesn’t want to let you go your own way. He wants to raise you up with Him.
Easter is still the twist ending. Even today, it’s the glorious surprise, even when we know the story so well. Every year, even in this horrible year, Easter brings a sudden and joyous change. Easter tells us once again that we are not in a tragedy. The story of this whole world is divine comedy—God’s awesome, hilariously wonderful story: the fill-you-up-until-you-burst-with-joy kind of story. Your happy ending is guaranteed because Jesus is risen. Baptized into Him, You are living His story. And the stone has been rolled away. The grave has been smashed. You were lost, but now you are found. You were dead, but now you are alive.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
In the Holy + Name of Jesus. Amen.
