In a recent sermon, the Rev. Leonard Sweet wrote, “Because the Good Friday nightmare was transformed into the Easter Dream, the way has been opened for ending all nightmares and incarnating all dreams. The Resurrection means that Christians can expectantly:

– dream of plenty in the midst of poverty;
– dream of compassion in the midst of poverty;
– dream of justice in the midst of inequity;
– dream of holiness in the midst of hell;
– dream of love in the midst of hate.

I thought that was powerful. It reminds me that our hearts and minds and energy follow our dreams. If we have no dreams, our lives become dull. If our dreams are self-centered, then our lives become small and skewed. However, if our dreams are in tune with the love we know in Christ, then our lives become rich with meaning and hope, and everything becomes possible.

May you dream bold dreams, dreams that will make a difference to you and to the world around you.

Let us pray: Give us great dreams, O God, dreams that are worthy of you and the hope you offer to the ends of the earth. Attune our hearts to your, and our life to your life. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.”

Early on in life, I looked to my grandfather as a role-model, someone I admired. Not that he was perfect – my grandmother makes it perfectly clear that he was not. But, he obviously cared deeply for others, and he served the Lord with dedication. He never had a lot of money or fine things, but he had a deep love of life itself. And from a young age, he was someone I looked up to, and I often thought, “I want to live like that.”

We all need role-models. Of course, for Christians, Jesus is our ultimate example, but we need other earthly examples too. We need people who are walking this path of faith with us. It is worth considering, who are my role models?

Let us pray: God of all generations, I give you thanks for Popsi – my grandfather, and for the many others who have influenced and shaped my life for the better. We each give you thanks for the positive role-models we’ve had in the past. And we ask that on this journey of life, you would surround us with those who would show us the path and draw us closer to you. Grant us teachers and leaders who are worthy of following. And, grant us wisdom and discernment so we may choose them wisely. Amen.

In the first century in the Roman Empire, the early Christians practiced a really interesting custom. They would take laurel wreaths out to their graveyards and place them on the graves. These were the same wreaths that had been used in Greek and Roman culture to crown the victors of athletic contests. For these first Christians, the ritual symbolized their belief that in Christ we have received victory even over the power of death.

Charles Kingsley was a very gifted and beloved Anglican pastor of the 19th century. He was also a well known historian and author. Near the end of his life, both he and his wife lay terminally ill in different rooms of the same hospital. They communicated by writing notes. One day his wife had a message sent to him that read: “My darling, is it cowardly of me to tremble before the unseen reality of death.” He wrote back “Do not be afraid! It will not be dark, because God is light. There will be no loneliness, for Christ will be there.”

I thought that was beautiful. And that is our resurrection hope.

In his first letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul wrote:

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Let us pray: Eternal God, before whom generations rise and pass away, we thank you that through the resurrection of Jesus you have overcome the powers even of sin and death. Help us to live fully – here and now – trusting that in life and in death we belong to you. Amen

In preparing to lead a memorial service for my friend Rev. Herb Meza, I read an Easter sermon that he had written entitled, “More Beyond.” In this sermon, Herb reflected on the eternal dimensions of our faith. He noted that if our eyes are open, there are all kinds of hints pointing to something more beyond us. He wrote about how science has discovered that there is a tremendous range of colors beyond what the eye can see; there are scales of octaves way above and below what the ear can hear; And there are discoveries in the field of physics that stretch the imaginations of even the greatest scientists.

He went on to write this:

“Everywhere we turn there are hints that there is more. Hints of life and power and energy.

“But even if there were no hints, there is that instinct within humans that points to more…. Pascal once said that God had planted this instinct in our very souls and no matter how much we try to disbelieve it, it keeps creeping up and out when we come face-to-face with the mystery of death… Easter is the triumphant affirmation of something we have never proved but instinctively know…. That our little world of time and space is but a small fragment of something much larger than we can perceive with our eyes, or hear with our ears, or touch with our senses…”

In his sermon, he went on to reflect on how death seems scary, but in reality it might be more like a birth. Near the very end of the sermon, Herb got very personal about the Christian hope of what lies beyond:

“I believe that one day every bruise, every cancer cell, every blind eye, every limp and every lump will be set right. One day every embarrassment and every rejection and every hurt we have suffered will give way to glory. I do not know how God will deal with all the shabbiness, failures and betrayal. It surely must hurt God, but I know God is loving and forgiving. One day, every moment of hoping against hope will be rewarded.”

Let us pray: We are grateful, Loving God, that in life and in death we belong to you. Help us to trust your healing, forgiving, embracing grace; now and always. Amen.

Keith Miller tells a wonderful story about a busy executive in an eastern city who was rushing to catch a commuter train one morning. The executive had an important meeting at the office, and he needed to make this train in order to get there on time. Just as he was about to board the train, he accidentally bumped into a little boy who was carrying a boxed jigsaw puzzle. The box went flying, and the pieces scattered everywhere. What should he do? Should he stop and help the little boy pick up the pieces? Or, should he get on the train? He couldn’t do both; there was not enough time! If he stopped to help, he would miss the train and be late. What should he do? What would you have done? Well, the man stopped and helped the boy pick up the puzzle as the train pulled out. The little boy watched him closely with a kind of awe. The little boy said, “Mister, you missed your train.” “I know” the man said. “Will you be late to work?’ the boy asked. “Yes, but it was more important that I stop and help you.” Then the little boy said, “Mister, can I ask you a question?” “Yes, of course.” “Mister, are you Jesus?” Keith Miller wrote, “And for the moment, the man realized that – on that platform – he had been.” The little boy saw the light of Jesus in that man’s act of Christ-like love.

Friend of Dial Hope, during these difficult days, how is it with you? Can people see in you Christ’s spirit of forgiveness? And can people see in you Christ’s love?

Let us pray: Creator God, you are eagle, you are dove, you are color and sound, you are wind and fire. How great Thou art! Your world is indeed full of pain as well as joy. Be especially with those who can’t sleep, with those who are fearful, who have little hope. Spread your love like a well-worn and beloved jacket over those who need comfort and love. For we pray in the name of the Prince of Peace, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.