“He Has Risen, Indeed”

I have often heard the phrase Recited on Resurrection Morning As if proclaimed by script “He Has Risen, Indeed!” It has the feel of something Routine and said by rote Without much consideration Just something to say this day

But I have come to understand It is more than just learned words Repeated and recited In response to an unasked question No, these words mean more than that

“He Has Risen, Indeed!” means: Poverty is not intractable Racism is not inevitable Hatred is overcomeable Oppression is overturnable Sickness is healable Victory is achievable It is the “…able” The ability to end evil

“He Has Risen, Indeed!” means: We can fight impossible fights and win them We can dream impossible dreams and manifest them We can confront impossible foes and defeat them We can face impossible odds and transcend them We can do impossible deeds and accomplish them We can live impossible lives and commend them

“He Has Risen, Indeed!” is: A testimony that the incredible is possible A reminder that the unbelievable is realizable A witness that there is nothing that limits us An affirmation that there is nothing that is beyond us An attestation that our hopes are limitless An assertion that our potential is boundless

“He Has Risen, Indeed!” is: A promise that we will rise, too On a future day at a future time That our future is assured That our fate is in God’s hands But we’d be remiss not to see That it is also a (now) promise That with God “all things are (now) possible” That with God we are (now) unconquerable That with God we are (now) invincible That with God we need (now) never fear

“He Has Risen, Indeed!” challenges us: To never give up in frustration To never give in to disdain To never surrender to doubt To never submit to injustice To never succumb to disbelief To never pay heed to naysayers To never concede to defeat

For “He Has Risen, Indeed!” assures us: That God is on the throne That God is over all That God is standing with us That God is walking by us That God is living in us That God is working through us That we are not alone!

“He Has Risen, Indeed!” proclaims boldly that: A man filled with God’s Spirit A man filled with God’s Word A man who healed the sick A man who encouraged the poor A man who welcomed the strangers A man who challenged the systems A man who lived for justice A man who Loved us all Was opposed by this world’s leaders Was crushed by this world’s judgment Was abused by this world’s powers Was killed by this world’s violence Was buried with this world’s refuse But was raised by the God who made this world Who overcame this world Who overcomes this world Who will transform this world Who is transforming this world Who is even (now) transforming this world

So, “He Has Risen, Indeed!” is: That which we should remember When-ever conflicts rise When hope within us wanes When waves would over wash us When troubles would overtake us That we need not be afraid That we need not ever be moved For when it seemed the world had won For when it seemed that all was lost God won! And because God won We will win!

Yes, “He Has Risen, Indeed!” is: An acknowledgement of God’s victory An attestation of our belief that that victory Cascades down to us as Countless other victories This world in all its power This world will yield to God This world will yield to us For, “He Has Risen!” “He Has Risen, Indeed!”