Father Gary’s Easter Sermon

Inspired from John 20:1-10

Proclaimed on March 27, 2005

In approaching this wonderful day of Resurrection I am reminded of a story that many of us read when we were children. It is an Uncle Remus story entitled “My Laughing Place.” It is about a little rabbit named Br’er Rabbit. One day he found himself trapped by Br’er Bear and Br’er Fox. As they were preparing to roast Br’er Rabbit, he suddenly began to laugh uncontrollably. Br’er Fox was quite displeased with this display of jocularity. He therefore impressed upon Br’er Rabbit the seriousness of the situation. Despite such warnings, Br’er Rabbit continued laughing, explaining that he could not help himself because was thinking about his secret laughing place. Hear this made Br’er Fox very curious, wanting him to want to know more. Br’er Rabbit, promising that he would not run away, stated that he would show them this secret place if they untied him. They consented. Unfettered, Br’er Rabbit began leading them through the forest, anxiously looking for an out. Then he spots a hornet’s nest in some brushes. “There’s my laughing place!” shouted Br’er Rabbit. Br’er Fox immediately jumps into the bushes. Soon he arises with the hornet’s nest on his head. Hornets were angrily flying about everywhere. Now Br’er Fox and Br’er Fox were trapped! Br’er Rabbit was then off and running free!

Later that same day Br’er Fox caught Br’er Rabbit again. Said the livid bear, “If that was the laughin’ place, I ain’t laughin’” Br’er Rabbit coyly replied, “I didn’t say it was your laughing place. I said it was my laughing place.” Then he began laughing again when the hornets showed up again, chasing after Br’er Fox and Br’er Fox. In their haste they let go of Br’er Rabbit, as they ran into the sunset.

Everyone needs a “laughing place.” Such a place is one of joy and complete satisfaction. The disciples in our Gospel lesson today had found just such a place. Prior to this event they were in total despair and confusion. Their Lord had just been crucified. The one suffering the most from this loss was Mary Magdalene. Following the Jewish Sabbath, she and another woman were the first ones to arise and go to the tomb in which the body of Jesus had been placed. Upon their arrival they found that the stone door on the tomb had been rolled away. Furthermore, the body of Jesus had been removed. They immediately returned to the disciples to let them know. Peter and John immediately ran to the tomb. Mary followed behind them. Peter and John both noticed that the body of Jesus is indeed gone and his grave clothes are neatly folded where the body once was. With this they ran back to the other disciples to confirm the story the women had earlier delivered. Mary, on the other hand, had gotten back to the tomb after they had left. When she peaked into the grave she saw two angels. They inquired as to why she was crying. She answered that someone had taken away her Lord. She then turned and saw someone outside the door. Thinking it was the gardner, she asked where the body of her Lord had been taken. The person answered her by calling out her name. The name was not said in just any old way, however. Her name was stated with the familiar intonation of Jesus. Jesus had been raised from the dead! Mary Magdalene had found her laughing place. Her Savior was alive! So it became true also for the rest of the disciples.

To this day the empty tomb is the laughing place of the Church. Here is where we find our joy! Here is where we find our complete satisfaction! This lesson was indeed more deeply ingrained in me during the Easter of 1993. It was my third year as the priest at the Church of the Messiah in Pulaski, Tennessee. The local Ministerial Association had requested that the annual Community Sunrise Easter Service be held in my parish’s Memorial Garden. Consenting, I had no idea how special this service was going to be. The folks from New Canaan Ranch, a place for indigents who were alcoholics and drug addicts, were putting on an Easter Pageant. Early that morning they had set up a huge white tent by the columbarium. During the skit, two men who were playing the part of Roman sentries were placed by the door of the tent that was serving as the tomb of Jesus. Where they got their customs remains a mystery to me. They looked like very realistic Roman soldiers. During the skit, the bottom portion of the uniform of one of the guards slides to the ground. He stood perfectly still, his underwear exposed, as snickers could be heard from the crowd. However, when I saw it I had an uncontrollable response. I could not contain my laughter. While everyone else attempted to remain courteous, I came close to rolling on the ground with laughter. Then the person who was playing the part of Jesus came out of the door of the tent, demonstrating the moment of the resurrection. When he saw the half naked guard at the door, he too broke out in uncontrollable laughter. At that point, the whole gathering likewise cut loose. Since then, the empty tomb has continued to be my laughing place!

However, not only is the empty tomb the laughing place of the Church, but it is also our place of “promise” and “hope.” This was clearly demonstrated by Cecil B. DeMille, the great movie director. While vacationing in Maine, he enjoyed fishing in a nearby lake from a canoe. Near the shore the water was shallow. He observed a number of water beetles swimming beneath the surface of the shallow water. Suddenly, one of the water beetles crawled up the side of the canoe. When it had arrived at the top, it attached itself to the canoe and died. Three hours later, as DeMille was fishing, he happened to glance at the shell of the beetle. He observed that it cracked open. As he continued to watch, he noticed a tiny head emerging. Not long afterwards, out popped a beautiful dragonfly. It had an iridescent body and gossamer wings. Soon it flew free over the shimmering lake. Indeed, it went further in one second than a water beetle could crawl in one day. Furthermore, as newly created dragonfly flew off, it was safe to say that the water beetles below the surface of the water were unaware of what had just occurred. DeMille observed, “Do you think God would do that for a water beetle and not do it for you and me?”

So today we celebrate Easter not only because of the Resurrection of Christ, but also for the empty tomb that has become our laughing place. We celebrate for one day we too will be raised again, just like Jesus! Alleluia!