“Suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here for he has been raised as he said.”
He is Risen!
Are there any more beautiful words? He is Risen --- Three simple words that fill our hearts with joy. Just the thought of them is enough to bring tears to my eyes (and I suspect yours, too.) He is Risen. He lives! The words that sustain us, that fuel our hope as we walk the pilgrim way. Words that give us the strength to face whatever is ahead of us confident of God’s purpose. He is Risen, the word that fulfills his promise, after three days, I will rise again.
The Women are told by the angel to go and tell. Go quickly, and tell his disciples. He has been raised from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.
The women go and tell the disciples. And the disciples go to Galilee, to the mountain as directed. At the conclusion of Matthew’s Gospel again there is worship and fulfillment and journey.
Jesus tells them, All authority in heaven and on earth have been given to me, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, And of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you and remember, I am with you always to the end of the age.
Jesus speaks that word to us still. Go. Tell. Make Disciples. Instruct them. That is our call. That is what we do.
For we as Christians are not called just to remember history, but to make history or rather to share in God’s history which is Christ. All authority has been given to him.
Christ is Risen.
He is Risen Indeed.
"Common Ground: A multiracial, multiethnic, multicultural Church" October 10 & 11, 2008 Diocesan Annual Convention in Racine The Rt. Rev. Steven Miller's address to the 160th Convention Convention speakers and workshop leaders from the Episcopal Church Center's Office of Ethnic Congregational Development
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OCTOBER 10TH & 11TH 2008
AT THE RACINE COMMUNITY CENTER
PRE-CONVENTION HEARINGS
9/15/08 @ ALL SAINTS CATHEDRAL-MILW.
starts 7:00pm
9/16/08 @ ST. LUKE'S-MADISON
starts 7:00pm
9/20/08 @ ST. ANSKAR'S-HARTLAND
starts 11:00am
more information will be posted as it becomes available
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