This season
of the year we are drawn back into a connection with the death, burial, and resurrection
of Christ. We talk of the agonizing
torture and the weight of our sins. And
our souls gasp. It could have been us;
it should have been us. But it was Him:
our Groom, Savior, Master, and King. We
are convicted and saturated with grateful awe.
And after we are swept into the darkness of that day, we reflect on the
explosively glorious act of air filling stale lungs. A single heartbeat resurrects the rhythm in a
cold chest, echoing the life of days past.
Eyelids flutter and the Creator made flesh made death a joke. And we proclaim “He is risen,” “He has
conquered,” “We are saved!” We sing
songs and raise hands to the One who proclaims victory over separation and
decay. Creation has a way back to the
goodness of His intention.
We hold
hands in pews and pass the ham around the family table, for what is better than
the created intention of family? We say
grace and thank the Father for the death and resurrection, forgetting the
burial altogether. We don’t want to gaze
on that span bookended by tragedy and majesty.
During that time we look to the disciples and mirror their tear stained
faces in our hearts. We look all around
at the mother, brothers, followers, betrayers, and skeptics. But we keep our back to the tomb, that cave
of death.
We fail to
see that many of our community resonate most with the symbolism of the
burial. Cold stagnate air carries isolation
so dark that even self isn’t recognized.
Layer upon layer of spices to cover the smell that hangs all around;
anything to cover up the pervasiveness of Death. Nothingness so rich that it is nearly
tangible. Stone edges preventing comfort
on any side. A prison of silence.
As a body,
let us see the tomb. Let us look upon it
and see our Lord and our brother and our sister. For those among us holding your breath for
relief, know that in Christ the grave is finite. Just as the Maker said to the oceans, “This
far you may come and no farther,” so has He shackled the tomb to itself.
And know
that it is ok that you are there, our Messiah was too.
