I remember one year in Sunday school we made a papier-maché tomb with a stone that covered the entrance. It stood in the corner of the room for a few weeks in Lent as a reminder of what was to come. On Easter Sunday we were stopped in our tracks as we observed the stone pushed away from the entrance and the empty tomb exposed for our viewing. I don't remember the lesson that day – but I'm pretty sure what it was. What I do remember is the stone rolled away. Like the angels at Jesus' tomb, our teacher had come early in the morning to roll away the stone.
Most of the stones that hold in the darkness and hurt of our lives are not of the papier-maché kind. It is not an easy push, or a light load, that stands between what happens in our lives and the experience of Easter message. The stones that block new life and liberation are heavy and daunting – not easily rolled away – and keep us from experiencing the power of resurrection moments.
Many Canadian seniors need help in rolling away the stones that entomb them. As the Canadian population ages, more seniors face complex issues of housing, long-term care, isolation from their communities and growing health concerns. The National Council on Aging predicts that in 25 years, nearly 25 per cent of Canadians will be over age 65. While there is much to celebrate in an aging population, there are also issues of life and faith that weigh heavily on the lives of individuals and families.
Many seniors face economic challenges as they live longer and therefore rely on their savings for a longer period of time. This economic vulnerability is especially acute for women, and in particular separated, divorced and immigrant women, whose incomes during working years are lower. Seniors who need long-term care will be faced with issues of finding the right care to meet their individual needs, loss of independence, health issues, and sometimes they have to leave their own communities, which brings other losses.
How will the stone be moved for them? Where are the signs of resurrection and new life?
Family members are often called upon to provide care. The demands of being available, providing practical support and contributing to another person's emotional and spiritual health constitute an overwhelming act of love, one that can take its toll. Some researchers say that caring for a family member is like having a job and a half. Add to that your own job, family and other responsibilities and the burden is great.
Who will roll away the stone for them? Where are the signs of hope and promise?
I believe that the Christian community is called to roll away the stone. As Christians, who see the empty tomb as a sign of Christ's victory over all the death and darkness of this world, we are stone rollers for those who live with the weight and shadow of worry and care.
We of the Church can be stone rollers in advocating for excellent care for seniors. Governments and agencies need, and sometimes even seek, the wisdom of faith communities in setting public policy. On behalf of those who do not have a voice, our churches can speak in support of those who are often marginalized in our society.
Having a sense of belonging is a spiritual need for all of us, and one which the seniors with whom I work have named for themselves. As congregations, through our visitation teams, elders' districts and pastoral care committees, we can respond to that need by being present with people and assuring them in word and deed that they belong – to Christ and to the community of faith. These acts can roll away huge burdens.
The women went to the tomb and found the stone rolled away. It was the beginning of an adventure that changed their lives and the life of the world. Easter is the promise that Christ lives to bring hope and healing to the world for which he died. Rolling away stones is a sign of that promise.
Happy Easter.
