Why are you weeping? God’s mercy endures for ever.

My children love amusement parks. When they were little, I happily rode with them on the carousel. When they were older but their legs were too short to reach the bumper car peddle, I rode with them as they steered and I pushed the peddle. When they finally achieved the height required for the thrilling rides, I tried to ride with them. I tolerated Alien Abduction, but not the roller coaster. I found roller coasters terrifying. After the first big decent, I closed my eyes, gripped the bar like my life depended on it, and prayed to Jesus for the ride to end soon. Since I prefer my religious experiences to be on the ground in a setting that is stationary, my now teenage children ride without me. I hate roller coasters.

Lately, life feels like a roller coaster ride. The markets went way down, then up a bit, and then down again. Peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas, Ukraine and Russia are taking place while bombs are falling again on hospitals and emergency workers are killed in Gaza. This week Russia launched a mass drone attack on an apartment complex killing and injuring civilian men, women and children. Over the past few months more than 56,000 federal workers were fired, over 76,000 federal workers took buy outs, and an unknown number of people employed by companies with federal contracts were laid off. Though court orders determined some federal employees were illegally dismissed, few have been allowed to return to work. As if these ups, downs, twists and turns were not enough, federal funds for medical research has stopped and emergency food and medical aid inside and outside this country have stopped or are on the list things to be cut to make our government efficient. In spite of these and pending cost cuts, and there is still insufficient savings to reduce the federal deficit, let alone balance the budget. I find these stomach churning ups, heart pounding downs, and hair raising turns in life overwhelming and frightening. Is the roller coaster of life making you afraid? Mary Magdalene was afraid. She had seen her beloved teacher and religious leader suffer. She was a helpless bystander when Judas betrayed Jesus, temple guards arrested him, crowds taunted him, and he died slowly on the cross. Now his body was missing. Even in death, the terror continued. Overcome with grief and fear

…Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb;
and she saw two beings dressed in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying…
They asked, "Woman, why are you weeping?" Mary replied, “Those people have taken away
my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” After she said this, she turned
around and saw someone standing there (it was Jesus), but her shock, grief and confusion
prevented her from recognizing him.

Mary was on one of life’s roller coasters: up and down, this way and that. But while Mary was tossed about and wracked with fear, Jesus appeared. When she was hopeless, Jesus called her name. Because she was confused, Jesus counseled her.

Jesus said, "Why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Mary, assuming Jesus was the caretaker for the graveyard, replied “Sir, if the authorities told you to carry him away, tell me where you have laid him. I will not let them know you told me. Just let me collect his body and lay him to rest." Then Jesus spoke her name,"Mary!" And she recognized him, "Rabbouni!" John 20:?

Throughout time, God was with the people of Israel (our ancestors in faith). God raised up patriarchs to lead them. God sent prophets to speak words of correction and comfort. God guided them to the promised land. God liberated them from slavery. When the roller coaster of life took off, God sat beside Israel riding with them to safety. Why? Because as Psalm 118 proclaims, God’s mercy endures for ever! The Lord is our strength and song, God is our salvation… but live, and declare the works of the Lord. answers us when we cry out and will be our salvation. 118:2, 14-17, 22. We shall not die, …give thanks to God, for God Alleluia! Psalm

In the midst of life’s roller coaster, who or what do you look to for comfort, counsel and safety? Mary was looking among the dead for hope and comfort, that is why the angels’ questioned her. Mary mistook Jesus for a landscaper whose job was tended the grounds where dead bodies were laid. So Jesus also questioned her, ‘Why are you weeping?’. Mary assumed Jesus’ power and authority were limited to his lifetime and her lifetime. She failed to realize Jesus was God. She under estimated the power of God. So Jesus challenged her, ‘whom are you looking for?’ I need you to hear the questions and challenge presented to Mary as if Jesus were presenting them to you. In these uncertain times what is causing you to fear? On this Easter Day, who do you expect to take away your fear? Who will safeguard democracy in the United States of America? Which budget cuts and taxes levied will balance the federal deficit? What policies will protect the environment? Which federal agencies will warn us of impending natural disasters and which will dispense workers and aid after floods, wild fires and earthquakes? As you close your eyes and grip the bar of the roller coaster car, who do you imagine is riding with you? Are you expecting politicians, judges, scholars and institutions of higher learning, or religious leaders to sit with you? They’re on the roller coaster too. Can they bring themselves and you safely to the end of this harrowing ride? Paul warned the Christians in Corinth, “If we only have hope in the things of this life, we are of all people most to be pitied!” Paul invited the Christians in Corinth to look to Jesus. In Jesus, God conquers all enemies, even the greatest enemy, death, is conquered by Jesus. Paul told the Corinthians

…Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of everyone who died. …Christ is the first fruit, then …those who trust in Christ are restored. Then …Jesus will hand over the kingdoms of this world to God … so that every ruler and every authority and all powers come under God’s reign. 1 Corinthians 15:19-20, 22-26

So when the stomach churning ups, heart pounding downs, and hair raising turns of life overwhelm and frighten you, do not add confusion to your difficulties. You are not alone! Protesters, lawyers, judges, politicians do not have to be alone. God has and always will be ready to be with every and anyone who trusts. Why, because God’s mercy endures forever. With God riding beside us on the roller coaster our letters to editors and elected representatives, our donations to public TV and radio, our volunteer time in shelters and food pantries, and our advocacy for people at risk than us will bear fruit. God is sitting with us in the roller coaster. God is a constant companion. God is a powerful partner. Through the pages of holy Scripture and in the annuls of human history we can see God at work: bring liberation to the enslaved; restoring health to the sick; sustaining people and nations during famines; and bringing life after death. Who are you looking for? When the roller coaster of life overwhelms and frightens me, I look for Jesus.

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust this sweetest frame; but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.