Reflection

What an unusual Easter! No gathering together in Church to celebrate this special festival. No Easter-egg related children's address - nor the sharing of the chocolate afterwards. No decorating the empty cross with flowers as symbols of new life, new flourishing. Even for non-Church-goers, what an unusual Easter! No crush at the Garden Centre, or family gatherings to enjoy the holiday long weekend. But what a day that first Easter was! A day that changed everything.
The two Marys, in Matthew's account, went 'to see the tomb'. They were grieving. Perhaps they were fulfilling a mourning ritual (visiting until the third day as a precaution against burying someone alive - remember the emphasis in John's Gospel (11:17) that Lazarus had been in the tomb four days, the point being to stress he was definitely dead). Perhaps they were just seeking the consolation that many find in visiting the grave of a loved one. Whatever, they were grieving. Jesus, who meant so much to them, had been taken away from them. Life was bereft of normality and all that held real meaning and potential.
Yet, arriving at the tomb, there was an earthquake and an angel appeared and rolled the stone away. They were invited to see for themselves that the tomb was empty, that Jesus was not there and told to go and tell his disciples. Now they left the place of burial "with fear and great joy". On their way to the disciples Jesus met them 'And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him.' Life looked very different now!
Theirs wasn't the only reversal that day. For the chief priests and leaders of the people the Crucifixion would have been a positive ending - removing the one who challenged their authority and threatened to upset their comfortable life. To make sure, they had posted a guard on the tomb to prevent his followers taking away the body. The guards were terrified by the earthquake and angelic appearance (symbols of the end time and God's judgement). Afraid also, no doubt, about the consequences for themselves when they reported their failure to 'secure' the tomb.
For them the relief at Jesus' death turned again to fear - fear that Jesus' movement was getting out of hand; fear of disturbance among the people; fear of reprisals from the Roman authorities. Conspirators who'd plotted a death, they now had to turn to 'false news' to deny the Resurrection and cover their backs.
I suppose any Easter has its mixed reception. There are those like us who go to church and loudly proclaim the Easter refrain: "He is risen! He is risen indeed!" People for whom the Easter story is one of positive good news - affirming the love and power of God, and the new life he holds out to all humankind. People for whom Easter is a great confirmation and resounding reminder to be the people of hope that God calls us to be. At the same time, there are those for whom Easter is a non-event, an unbelievable story, an irrelevance for their lives (except it brings a holiday and an excuse to gorge on chocolate). People who might scoff at the faithful going to church or look upon them with incomprehension. And there are people who deliberately try to disprove the Easter message and even the existence of God.
This Easter is different for all of us because of the pandemic. The news is full of statistics about the toll of the virus here and in other countries. There are daily reports of people flouting the government advice to stay at home and keep your distance and continuing to do their own thing as though they are impervious to the virus. There are even reports of public figures urging observance of the 'rules' one day and then by their actions the next seeming to say "they don't apply to me". The selfishness of such actions and attitudes is daily highlighted in the appeals of sufferers through their oxygen masks: "just stay home!"
At the same time there are news reports about the often inventive and always generous ways individuals and groups have changed tack to help others in practical ways. Restaurant staff preparing meals for NHS staff on duty, or for the local Foodbank or hostel. Groups formed to coordinate help in shopping or delivering prescriptions to those self-isolating at home, and the multitude of volunteers and helpful neighbours whose stories won't all hit the headlines. There is even the report of drug gangs in Cape Town calling a truce and distributing food to those who need it throughout the community. And, of course, there's the funny side, as people post on social media entertaining ways they are coping with the shutdown.
This year, the message of Easter rings out in a different way. Like the two Marys and the other followers of Jesus, we approach the day bereft. We begin with thoughts of Good Friday, the pain and the suffering of Jesus on the Cross, not far from our minds. We are also bereft of much of our normal social life at this time, and bereft of our usual services as our church buildings are closed. It may even seem that this situation which has taken away so much of what we take for granted, so much of what we enjoy, and which lifts our spirits, that death has not lost its sting.
But Matthew's account of that first Easter continues to give us hope. The two Marys discover the amazing truth that Jesus is not there in the tomb - he has risen. This is God's work (as symbolised by earthquake and angel). Not only has Jesus risen, he is going ahead of his disciples - his life-giving presence continues, leading his followers to new life. Peter's words in his encounter with Cornelius in our reading from Acts shows how God reveals new truths to us, enriching our understanding of the breadth and depth of his love for all. His words show how at times we need to rethink what we might so easily take granted or unthinkingly repeat year after year.
In our coronavirus-inflicted isolation, instead of bemoaning what we have temporarily lost, maybe we can celebrate Easter's message of hope voiced in the selflessness of many and in the sense of communities drawing together in mutual support. Afterall, care for one another, community, selflessness, are all part of the example Jesus gave us. Maybe, as we rediscover some of these truths, our communities may come to recognise Easter's message of new life for them as well as for us.

Happy Easter to you all! Shout out with confidence, "He is risen!" and live the new life of faith, love and hope that Easter is about.