Resurrection changes horizons

Episcopal Church on Edisto

Acts 10:34; Psalm 118:23; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:16

Easter Day
March 27, 2016

Alleluia. The Lord is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.
HE IS NOT HERE, BUT HAS RISEN. (Luke 24:5) Resurrection
changes your horizons. Our expectations are often realized,
because we are looking for them, but they are also limited
because of where we strand.
We see the world in a particular way, because we look at the
world from our own vantage point. The dictionary defines
"horizon" as "the boundary-line of that part of the earth's visible
from a given point of view."

(The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary,

page 921)

Resurrection changes your horizon. The resurrection of Jesus

Christ from the dead changes the way you and I see the world.
Let me illustrate this dramatic change in the lives of three
people.
Peter the fisherman from Galilee. I TRULY UNDERSTAND
THAT GOD SHOWS NO PARTIALITY. (Acts 10:34) Peter sees
beyond his Jewishness. Peter recognizes that his human

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community is beyond the limits of fellow fishermen or

immediate family, or the boys get together on Saturday night
or the country club crowd. All of us are limited in our
awareness of the common bonds that humanity presents until we
see with the eyes of Jesus. Jesus looked into the hearts and
souls of each person he encounters. He sees only a person,
created in Gods image and loved by God unconditionally. He
sees individuals, not races, tribes, groups, nationalities or
classes. Jesus looks beyond our physical existence. Only from
the horizon of resurrection that Jesus presents, are we, like
Peter, able to TRULY UNDERSTAND THAT GOD SHOWS
NO PARTIALITY. (Acts 10:34) Peter had his horizon changed.
Paul the Pharisee, a devout follower of the Jewish faith of his
fathers, a son of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I find in Paul a real
parallel to my life. I too was raised in the church. I cannot
remember the first time I heard the Lords Prayer. I cannot
recall a time when I did not go to Sunday school and to church.
When someone said some negative about Christ or the Church, I
was the first to defend the Faith! God forbid if someone
wanted to change the Prayer Book! Unfortunately I, like Paul,
was following the letter of the Law, not the spirit of the
Law. I didnt go as far as Paul, however, and throw people

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into prison. But I do put a wall around them. We good

Christians (by this I meant Episcopalian) dont associate with
those kind of people.
For Paul it took a Damascus road experience, to recognize that
THERE IS NO LONGER JEW OR GREEK, THERE IS NO
LONGER SLAVE OR FREE, THERE IS NO LONGER MALE
AND FEMALE; FOR ALL OF YOU ARE ONE IN CHRIST
JESUS. (Galatians 3:28) Truly scales were dropped from Pauls
eyes. Here was for Paul a new horizon, here was Pauls
resurrection in Christ. Paul saw a new world, because Paul
stood in a different place. SO IF YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED
WITH CHRIST, SEEK THE THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE,
WHERE CHRIST IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF
GOD. SET YOU MINDS ON THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE
NOT ON THINGS THAT ARE ON EARTH, FOR YOUR LIFE
IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD. WHEN CHRIST WHO
IS YOUR LIFE IS REVEALED, YOU ALSO WILL BE
REVEALED WITH HIM IN GLORY. (Colossians 3:1-4) Paul had
his horizon changed.
MARY MAGDALENE CAME TO THE TOMB. (John 20:1)

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If ever there was an example of the power of love to transform a

human being, it is Mary Magdalene. We know little about Mary,
her background or her life in 1st century Palestine. But we do
know the plight and situation of most women in this time of
human existence. She was trapped in a world not of her
choosing or making.
Then, Jesus enters the scene. Here was a man who accepted her,
not as the mere unfortunate woman. Do you know that
among the benedictions that Jewish men said in their daily
prayers in time of Mary was: I thank God that you did not
make me a woman. Jesus meets Mary, offering dignity and
honor a man who saw beyond her physical appearance and
the social constraints. A man who would honored her here and
now, not if you do this, or if you change you that. Jesus
honored her for who she truly is, a child of God and a sister to
him. And now (pause) he was gone! Marys new life is shattered.
She has lost the one person who truly loved her.
She goes to the tomb, frightened and alone. My life is over! I
too am among the dead. Then Jesus appears! She does not
recognize him. Jesus calls her by name, Mary! (John 20:16)

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I believe the author of the Fourth Gospel is very intentional in

portraying this scene on Easter morning. From the Book of the
prophet Isaiah: FEAR NOT! FOR I HAVE REDEEMED YOU;
I HAVE CALLED YOU BY NAME, YOU ARE MINE.
43:1)

(Isaiah

Mary Magdalene had her horizon changed.

And Jesus calls you by name: Jane William I baptize

you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. (Prayer Book, page 307) My love for you Mary, Paul, Peter,
Colton, and you, and you, and you is everlasting! See this
world from where Jesus stands! Know this world, as God has
created it! Join with Jesus in redeeming what has been lost.
Stand on the horizon of the resurrection. Lives transformed,
horizons changed.
1. no partiality. Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female
We are one in Christ.
2. There is more to existence than what we can see physically.
there is value beyond THINGS THAT ARE ON EARTH
(Colossians 3:2)

changed.

You can perceive this when your horizon has

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3. Are you still looking from the living among the dead? Is life
still perplexing? REMEMBER .... Shout it from the roof
tops! HE IS NOT HERE, BUT HAS RISEN. (Luke 24:5)
SO IF YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH CHRIST..
(Colossians 3:1)

Return from the tombs which have imprisoned your sight, your
point of view, and look on the world through the eyes, the light,
the words, the life of Christ. Resurrection changes horizons.
THIS IS THE LORD'S DOING, * AND IT IS MARVELOUS
IN OUR EYES. (Psalm 118:23)
Let us pray:
Eternal God, who raised Jesus Christ from the dead, we praise
your grace and love. The wonder of the living presence of
Christ thrills our hearts. We rejoice in your inclusive grace
which reaches out to all persons. Like Mary Magdalene, Paul,
Peter and all the others who were witnesses to the risen Lord,
open our eyes and ears to sense, feel, see, and hear Christ's
living presence with us today. May the new life we experience
in Christ affect everything we say and do. AMEN.
The Reverend Dr. Colton M. Smith
One Bishop Gadsden Way, Apt. 346

Charleston, SC 29412