The Most Difficult Thing I Do

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened. (Luke 24:1-12 ESV). Sometimes I am asked what’s the most difficult thing I have experienced in being a pastor. There have been many things that come to mind. Perhaps I could answer helping the grief stricken, especially when death seems to be so untimely. When a child dies, or a parent in the midst of their time of child-rearing; these are always difficult. I could answer that those times when I have walked with people in the midst of their experiences of physical or emotional pain and suffering. When a young family is torn apart in divorce, or when someone is in the midst of their physical battle with disease and treatment; these are difficult times. However, I suppose my stock answer is always getting people to believe in grace. Most church people would be shocked at such an answer. After all, don’t we all believe in grace? We say we do, but we certainly don’t behave as if we do. Our reading makes it very clear there was nothing the disciples had to do to make Easter happen. They didn’t have to pray for it, earn it, or deserve it. They didn’t even have to believe it. And they didn’t believe, at first. They didn’t even have to roll the stone away from the door, as the women discovered. God took care of all the details. Easter just happened. And we receive it. It is a gift, sheer grace. Grace is the unmerited love of God. Grace is something you can never get, only be given. Grace can’t be achieved, only received. You can’t earn it, deserve it, or bring it about, so stop trying. If you go to heaven, it won’t be because you’re good but because God is. You don’t have to earn God’s love because you already have God’s love. All you have to do now is respond to God’s love. The Apostle Paul wrote: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2 ESV). Make my job easier. Believe it!