Revelation 12:1-2

A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birthpangs, in the agony of giving birth.

 

Psalm 118

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

his steadfast love endures for ever!

Let Israel say,

‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’

The LORD is my strength and my might;

he has become my salvation.

There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:

‘The right hand of the LORD does valiantly;

the right hand of the LORD is exalted;

the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.’

I shall not die, but I shall live,

and recount the deeds of the LORD.

The LORD has punished me severely,

but he did not give me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness,

that I may enter through them

and give thanks to the LORD.

This is the gate of the LORD;

the righteous shall enter through it.

I thank you that you have answered me

and have become my salvation.

The stone that the builders rejected

has become the chief cornerstone.

This is the LORD’s doing;

it is marvellous in our eyes.

This is the day that the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

 

When the regular days roll back around, we find ourselves dealing with the questions of “So what?” and “What next?”  Jesus has risen from the dead.  Now what do we do about it?  Can we go on with our plans and finish off the last bits of the ham or the red velvet cake as though everything was normal?  If the Resurrection has already happened, then what does that mean for us today?

Clearly everyday tensions like a call from a woman escaping a domestic abuse situation and North Korea flexing yet another war-painted muscle give me pause to notice that the “newness of life” does not come easily and quietly to a world of sin that is being defeated day after day.  The lie is perpetuated by the enemy that nothing has happened.  The scattered forces of darkness quake at the thought that Christians are proclaiming in unity such bold news as “death has been put to death.” and “Love conquers all.”  The tough part of the Resurrection becomes more obvious as we try to return to our “normal” lives and realize that even just singing “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” has sent trembling shock waves into the shattering remnants of hell.