Robert Frost’s little poem “Revelation” ends with this intriguing verse:
But so with all, from babes that play At hide-and-seek to God afar, So all who hide too well away Must speak and tell us where they are.
Do you remember playing hide and seek as a child? Perhaps as an adult, you have played it with children. Those acts of hiding are acts of imaginative play, and carry the expectation that one will be sought, and hopefully, found. Other forms of hiding carry most serious overtones, and are in fact, choices we make to keep safe.
It is interesting, then, to read story of the resurrection in the Gospel of John. There it is made clear that the disciples were in hiding, for fear that those who put Jesus to death would do harm to them as well. These were “behind locked doors”, unlike Mary Magdalene, who encountered the risen Christ in the garden.
As much as coming out of hiding can be an act of faith and courage, the act of hiding itself also has a rich tradition in the Scriptures. Psalm 27:5 says, “For in the day of trouble, the Lord will conceal me in the Tabernacle. In the secret place of the Tent, God will hide me.” And in Psalm 119:114, we read, “You are my hiding place.” Several things are therefore true. We all hide, in one way or another, and there is a hiding in God that keeps us safe. Eventually, we are called to emerge from the hiding place to be the visible disciples of Jesus in our world.
In a sense, the Easter proclamation “Christ is risen” is a declaration of an emerging from a hiding place. The sermon for this Easter Sunday morning is titled, “Good News For Those In Hiding.” In the service, there will be much joyful music, including brass, choral anthems, and selections from the Handbell Choir, as well as prayers and a moment for children. We will conclude our service with the singing of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus.
If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for a long time, a short time, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the live stream. To join online, visit www.smumc.church and click on the Live Stream banner.