Luke 24:1-12

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb taking the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the entrance of the tomb, but when they went inside they didn’t find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them.

The women were terrified and they bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here. He is risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, be crucified, and on the third day, rise again.” Then the women remembered what he had said and, returning from the tomb, they told all of this to the eleven and to all the rest.

Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles, but their words seemed to them and idle tale, and they didn’t believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking inside he saw the linen cloths by themselves, and he went home, amazed at what had happened.

We’ve been telling stories around here throughout the season of Lent, leading up to this morning and Easter’s great story of gospel good news. I’m so grateful for the brave, faithful Cross of Gracers who shared brief, true, very personal stories about their lives in this world – and about the many ways their lives and their faith came together at a variety of crossroads, for them. We heard stories about miraculous healings, surprising encounters with the divine; family, friendship, and falling in love. And more on top of that.

On Good Friday, to wrap up that storytelling extravaganza, we heard one more story and then we listened to the story of Jesus’ crucifixion, suffering, and death on the cross. And then we left in darkness and silence, with only the microphone we’d been using all season, left standing at the foot of the cross, all by its self. Alone. Off. Unplugged. Silent.

I’m not sure who got the symbolism of that or knew how deliberate that was, but it made me think of this picture I remember seeing somewhere, some time, several ago.

Mel Blanc, of course, was the voice actor for all of those distinct and memorable Loony Tunes characters: Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Sylvester and Tweety Bird, Foghorn Leghorn, Speedy Gonzales, Pepe LePew, and Daffy Duck. (Those were the days when cartoons were socially unaware and culturally insensitive in ways that kids like me probably shouldn’t have been watching them for hours on end every Saturday morning. But we didn’t know what we didn’t know!)

Anyway, these lonely microphones – the one in that picture and the one we left here on Friday – are a powerful symbol for me – and a connection and inflexion point – between Good Friday’s silence and the invitation I hope compels us on the other side of Easter’s empty tomb.

The women show up to do their thing for the body of Jesus – to grieve his death, to anoint his body, maybe to confirm that what they had seen and heard really was true: that their friend, teacher, messiah … that their savior … really was dead and gone. And when they get there, the stone has moved – and so has Jesus – and they have this terrifying encounter with some sharp-dressed men, who remind them about what they woulda, coulda, shoulda remembered: that Jesus was alive and well, just as he said he would be.

So the women leave with a new story of their own to tell: that Jesus was the real deal after all – just like he’d told them all along. The men, of course, aren’t buying it. They don’t believe it, because … women. So Peter hoofs it to the tomb to see for himself. And what do you know? The women – and Jesus, himself – were right after all. Men.

But it’s that question from ZZ Top (the Sharp Dressed Men) that gets me today. It’s the question from the angels at the grave side that I can’t ignore: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” It seems like a rhetorical question, but it sticks with me because, I think, it’s how and where each of us is invited to figure out what kind of story we’re going to tell about all of this, in the end.

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

While it seems like the angels imply the women shouldn’t be looking for Jesus at the tomb – again, had they been paying attention and believed what he’d been telling them all along. But, I’d actually like for us to “look for the living among the dead” not because we don’t understand or believe what has happened here, but precisely because we do understand and believe it. I mean, I want us to “look for the living among the dead” because it’s the invitation of Easter, it’s the joy of faith, and it’s the call of our discipleship, if we want to follow Jesus.

I think we look for the living among the dead because Easter’s good news is meant precisely for the dead and the dying; for the lost and forgotten; for the oppressed and the outcast. It’s for the sick and the suffering; the poor and the marginalized. This good news is for those without a microphone and for those with stories to tell that no one seems to be listening to.

Of course, Easter’s story is about the forgiveness of sin, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Those we’ve lost around here lately – our friends, family, and Partners in Mission – Jerry, Carol, Joan, Bob, Steve, and Dick – and all those who’ve gone before, know about life in the face of death in ways we can only imagine on this side of heaven. The story of Easter’s good news is certainly theirs.

But Jesus’ death and resurrection wasn’t all or only about the other side of heaven. He died and was raised so that we might bring life and love; grace and mercy, peace and hope to bear upon the world as we know it, here and now. Jesus died – and was raised – to prove that what got him killed in the first place … God’s ways of justice and equity, peace and inclusion, humility and generosity, sacrifice and suffering … that God’s Way was and is THE WAY to life everlasting – not just then and there, but on earth as it is in heaven, too.

So I say we go, not just looking for the living among the dead, but that we go looking to bring life to the dying – the suffering – the struggling – the oppressed – the outcast, the sinner, and all the rest. That’s the call, the command, and the story of Easter. We are meant to leave the tomb with such good news to share that it changes everything for anyone and everyone who needs to hear it most.

Easter’s story calls us to stand up to violence and injustice – and the death, destruction and dehumanization they foster – at every turn.

Easter’s story is one meant to make us care for creation in ways that prevents it from dying faster than it can restore and repair itself.

Easter’s story is one that makes room for all people – and their stories – rather than removing them from the narrative.

Easter’s story is one that should give Christian people enough faith in the God we worship to trust that that God is big enough to love people who believe differently than we do – if they even believe at all.

I think Easter’s good news of resurrection was and is the cosmic mic-drop moment of our faith. And our call is to pick up the mic again – maybe even to take it from those who would do otherwise – and to tell a story more loudly and more clearly full of grace, mercy, love, and hope for all people.

Why do we look for the living among the dead? Because the world needs people who have the faith, grace and courage to bring good news to the poor, now; release to the captive, now; recovery of sight to the blind, now; and to let the oppressed go free, now.

If we’re not doing any of that with Easter’s good news, we might as well leave it in the tomb and unplug the mic.

It seems too good to be true, but Google says that Mel Blanc’s last words were “That’s all folks!” Whether that’s the case or not, I can’t say for sure. It IS true that his family had his most famous one-liner etched into the headstone at his grave.

Easter’s good news is that death wasn’t and isn’t ever ALL there is, when God has a God’s way with it. Easter means, not just that there is life after death, but that because of that, we have life to proclaim and to practice in the face of all the death, dying, and destruction we face and facilitate too much of the time in this world.

“Why do we look for the living among the dead?” Because Easter gives us a better story of life and blessing and joy, of promise, good news, and hope to proclaim and practice in its place.

Amen. Alleluia. Happy Easter.