What is Resurrected Life? Part 1: Internally
Rev. Erik Swanson
May 4, 2025
You can watch the sermon here.
I continue to greet people with “Happy Easter” even weeks after Easter Sunday. It’s not an attempt to prolong a holiday, but a reflection of the church’s liturgical calendar, which designates Easter as a 50-day season. This extended time is meant to deeply engage with the meaning of the Resurrection—not just as Jesus’ story, but as one that is meant to become our story too. The Resurrection is not a one-day event; it’s an invitation to transformation that touches every part of our lives.
The Resurrection as a Lived Reality
This message begins a four-week series exploring the “resurrected life” in different aspects of human experience, starting with the internal life. The goal is to reflect on how the Resurrection shows up not just as a theological idea but as a lived reality. This includes how we deal with inner struggles, how we are sustained spiritually, and how we open ourselves to God’s ongoing presence.
Christ is Still Alive and Present
Too often people get stuck in intellectual debates about the Resurrection—its historical accuracy, the differences between Gospel accounts, and whether it was physical or spiritual. But these discussions, while interesting, can distract from the deeper call: to allow the Resurrection to shape how we live. The power of the Resurrection lies in the idea that Christ—more than just the historical Jesus—is still alive and present in the world through the Spirit. That presence invites us into communion, transformation, and spiritual renewal.
Christ Nurtures Us
This inner transformation has very real effects. In prayer, meditation, and deep listening, we welcome God's love in a way that nurtures and empowers us, even in the face of external chaos. The risen Christ nurtures us, just as he fed his disciples after the Resurrection. This spiritual vitality offers hope, courage, and strength—qualities I felt personally during the recent protests about injustice, sensing the Spirit moving through them.
Letting Go of What No Longer Serves Us
This transformation also involves discernment. Many people have absorbed cultural values—such as fear, violence, and discrimination—that stand in opposition to resurrection life. These values constrict us internally, distancing us from God and from each other. But Holy Week reminds us that some things must die for new life to emerge. Resurrection begins with letting go of what no longer serves us and making space for the Spirit to bring new life.
Thank You God for the Wonderful Creation I Am
The inner work of resurrection can lead to profound self-discovery. Through spiritual direction, both as a guide and participant, I have seen people come to recognize limiting beliefs and behaviors. This awareness becomes a doorway to freedom and new ways of being. A suggested prayer—“Thank you God for the wonderful creation that I am, show me the way to live into my wonderfulness”—is a great spiritual exercise to reveal both the potential for new life and the resistance within us.
Easter: How Deeply Will We Make It Our Own Story?
The Easter story, ultimately, is not just to be celebrated but to be lived. It’s a call to allow the Spirit of the Risen Christ to nourish, sustain, and transform us from within. As the Easter season continues, the invitation remains open: how deeply are we willing to let this story become our own?