Last week, the women left the empty tomb to do as Jesus said: tell the disciples that Christ is risen! Go and meet him in Galilee!

This week, we found out how they responded to that news: they locked themselves in a room. Even after Jesus himself appears to them, they remain locked in a room, afraid of the outside world.

Fear is powerful. Fear keeps us trapped, sequestered, prevented from doing what we were created to do. Fear keeps us in our place.

When we’re afraid, certainty can feel like a better option than faith. Locking ourselves in a room and knowing what to expect – even when that reality feels miserable, hopeless, unfair, unjust – can feel less scary, even preferable to opening the door to a world where the dead don’t stay dead and who knows what else might be possible.

But Pastor Hoffman reminds us that the good news of Easter extends beyond one Sunday. Jesus shows up, and keeps showing up to the disciples (and us) over and over again, as many times as it takes, to find a way in to our locked rooms and cold hearts and closed minds.

Thanks to be God!  Alleluia! Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed, alleluia!

P.S. The Lyric Chorale (which includes many familiar faces from BLC) will present its Spring concert, Music for Royal Occasions, Friday, April 21, at 12 Corners Presbyterian Church, 1200 S Winton Rd., Brighton. Note that the venue has changed from previous publicity! The concert is at 7:30 pm and will include music by Handel, Vaughan Williams, Purcell, and others. The choir will be accompanied by organ, strings, and trumpets. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door.