Based on: John 20:1-18

I must admit I was sorely tempted to stand up here this morning and say:

• Jesus died.
• Jesus rose.
• Go do something about it!

And then sit down.

Because truly, what else can you say on the Sunday of the Resurrection, Easter Sunday?

• Jesus died.
• Jesus rose.
• Go do something about it.

If you were here on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, you have the sense of "He died." No need to belabor the point. If you missed out on the deep darkness of the story that led to today, well then, come back next year during Holy Week. We do this every year you know.

And anyway, you can see "Jesus died" in many places in the world every day, including this city. You won't have to look far to find the crucifixion, maybe not with an actual cross, but you'll find it. Prejudice, hatred, dictatorships - government, business or private, abuse of women, men, children, animals; crucifixion in all its many forms is practiced daily.

What I'd like you to think about today instead is practicing resurrection. Why not, after all? Doctors practice. Attorneys practice. Professionals of all sorts practice. Why not practice resurrection?

Let's say it another way: Why practice resurrection? How about this? If you want to know how to do something, you have to practice how to do it. And anything worth doing is worth practicing to do.

How do you practice resurrection? You can start by joining with other people who also want to practice resurrection. Right here is a good place. We practice resurrection here every week. I want you to know, those of you who come once or twice a year, we love you and we're glad to see you. We miss you when you're not here. It gets lonely practicing resurrection with people missing.

For those of you who are here more often; imagine how lonely some people are who don't know how to practice resurrection at all! You probably know one or two of those people. Invite them here. Let them see what happens when you practice resurrection. Let them see how to practice resurrection.

Maybe...just maybe...like Mary Magdalene, if you run away and tell others, they'll follow you back to practice resurrection. If you peek in the tomb and find it empty, but you stay weeping, if that's all you can do right now, you might see angels. And maybe if you practice resurrection a little longer still, you might hear a voice calling you by name. And maybe if you keep practicing even longer, the voice might turn out to be the voice of Jesus. Jesus calling you to keep practicing resurrection, not just here, but everywhere you go.

You can practice acceptance rather than prejudice. You can practice love rather than hatred. You can practice collaboration rather than dictatorship. You can practice nurturing women, men, children, animals. You can practice resurrection daily in all its many forms.

We'll look for you here to practice resurrection with us:

Jesus died.

Jesus rose.

Go do something about it.

AMEN.

The Rev Nicolette Papanek

Trinity Episcopal Church

Covington, Kentucky

©2011