Year C 2025

Luke 24:1-12

The Very Rev. Denise Vaughn

The “Golden Hour” Truth

At early dawn, just when the first light was beginning to permeate the black of night, the women, Luke tells us, went to the tomb to prepare Jesus’ body as was their custom. Usually, at this time of day even unto today the sky is filled with beautiful colored hues making it seem almost mystical, a serene time with soft lights. No wonder photographers call it the “golden hour.” The “golden hour” is a photographer’s favorite time to create portraits and landscapes that capture the exquisite beauty and mystery of the world around them. The “golden hour” is also a time Christians and Jews have come to value as a time for meditation and connecting with God, a peaceful, restoring time with God.

It’s no wonder then that the most important moment in history-Jesus’ resurrection and the discovery of his empty tomb-take place in that “golden hour” just after dawn, when the presence of God seemed to permeate the entire garden with hints of awakening and new life. Indeed, life wins.  When God raises Jesus from death, God affirms that life is stronger than death, that love is stronger than fear, and that forgiveness is stronger than judgment. This is good news of great joy. Yet, news that each one of the gospel writers confirm is very hard to believe.

Mark in his gospel tells us that the women flee the tomb in terror and silence. In John’s portrayal, Mary Magdalene draws what seems the obvious conclusion when Jesus’ body cannot be found: someone has taken it. In Luke, their testimony is dismissed as “nonsense.” Of course it’s hard to believe. And yet, something happened to those first disciples that transformed them from cowardly, frightened, timid followers at Jesus’ death to bold, courageous men and woman who later risked life and limb for Jesus. If the scriptural witness is true that Jesus died and that God resurrected him and they do testify that Jesus died and was raised to new life, then it changes everything. If God can raise Jesus, then we need not fear the grave or anything else for that matter.

If God can raise Jesus, than all things are possible and we, like those first followers and followers through the ages, have no choice but to tell this incredible life-changing story of God’s love. When we confess that God has raised Jesus from the dead, we confess that salvation-for us and for all the world-is ultimately and completely God’s responsibility. Because resurrection is beyond us-we cannot create such a miraculous act. But we can celebrate it, tell about it, and live out of the confidence and courage resurrection brings. We can throw ourselves into feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, helping those in need, caring for our environment and visiting those who are isolated. We can lend our strength and support to all that is life-affirming and life-giving because God’s raising of Jesus is what Paul calls the “first crop of the harvest.”

Christ introduced resurrection into the world, therefore, everyone will be made alive in Christ. God will redeem all things in time and this can only give us hope, this becomes a promise of our sharing in the resurrection. In the book of Acts, we read how Peter and the other disciples help the Gentiles in their day to recognize the new resurrection reality for their lives as they witness to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. God shows no partiality Luke tells us. Everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins and is raised. The fact is resurrection changes everything. We can throw ourselves into worthy pursuits without fear, for Christ is risen and will redeem each and all of us, and indeed the world.

This is the truth of this Easter Day, the climax and pinnacle of our faith. The truth that God is in charge and we have been re-created by our baptisms and called to a new vocation of resurrection. Resurrection is not only the vocation of our lives, but it is also the vital vision of our lives. So, let us go as the women did on that beautiful first Easter morning during the “golden hour” and then as the men did, and witness to what we know.  Let us tell the truth of the unbelievable resurrection so that the world may see Christ’s light and love, and have life through him, and have it more abundantly. Alleluia, Christ has risen! He has risen indeed!