Sermon, Easter Sunday! (B)

This morning, we celebrate the Resurrection. ALLELUIA! Hands up, everyone here; and those of you at home, cry aloud. Alleluia. ALLELUIA! Amen. 

 

And we have the privilege of talking about Jesus’ friends. His followers. His disciples. His consistent bubble of a social circle. 

The bubble who were grieving, who were lost, who were forlorn.

The friends who were losing their ability to cope, who were losing their desire to continue, who were losing their faith. 

The disciples who had given up, who had given in, who were just done. 

…until Mary came back from the tomb. 

 

Mary Magdalene – the woman who braved going out alone, in the dark, to the tomb… 

The woman who had given her financial resources to support the ministry of Jesus’ disciples.  

The woman who had stayed at the foot of the cross while her saviour died.

The woman who had helped prepare the human body of Jesus to be laid INTO the tomb. 

 

Mary Magdalene, who on the first day of the week, 

went to the tomb with respect and purpose, and was the first to find it opened – and emptied.

The woman who stayed at the empty tomb after the disciples had come – and gone.

The woman who was first to speak to a heavenly messenger about what on earth – literally – was happening.

The woman who was the first to see Jesus: and to speak with the resurrected Christ.

 

This was the woman who preached the first – and shortest ever – Easter sermon.

I have seen the Lord. Mary said.

 

And she preached to the tiny congregation, 

Of the folks who did not yet understand the scripture.

Who were not prepared to hear the good news.

Who were so perplexed by the empty tomb that they simply left to go back home.

Who could not comprehend the beautiful truth of what she said.

 

Nevertheless, she persisted. 

I have seen the Lord, Mary said. I have SEEN the Lord. 

 

 And this is not some nonchalant comment she is making.

No, this is a ground-breaking, earth-shattering, life-changing proclamation.

I have SEEN the LORD!

 

And it’s about this time that I imagine the God be praised and Alleluias! Start coming out. 

Because: she is bearing the truth of the resurrection. 

She is bearing the power of the Risen Christ. 

She is bearing the faith. 

 

I have seen the Lord.

I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!

 

And her life will never be the same – for she has seen the living Lord. 

God be praised, Alleluia!

And the lives of the disciples will never be the same – for they have heard of the Risen Christ. God be praised, alleluia!

And the future of the entire cosmos is forever changed and enlightened – for the Messiah, the Chosen One, the Son of God – has destroyed death, and proven LIFE.

 

And friends – this is the joy of Easter – that we too have been invited into new life. 

Into seeing the world through new eyes, 

into interacting with one another with renewed grace, 

into service far and wide with strengthened faith,

and into loving fully with the assurance of life. 

 

For beloved: we, like Mary, can tell the good news: that WE have seen the Lord. 

 

I have seen the Lord in the collaboration with one another

in the connections we are intentional about making

in the faith we are living

God be praised – Alleluia!

 

I have seen the Lord!

In the conversations we are having about where God is in the midst of the messiness of life.

In the prayers we are praying for the people we love and for strangers and for the entirety of God’s world.

In the donations to our food banks and women’s shelters and animal sanctuaries.

God be praised – Alleluia!

 

I have seen the Lord!

In the Compassion we are extending to each other, knowing we don’t know what the next COVID announcement will be. 

In the proclamation of the good news of God in the person of Jesus Christ.

In the food deliveries and mail pick-ups and mask-wearing.

God be praised – Alleluia!

 

I have seen the Lord!

In the companionship we are creating, as we do not let social distancing become isolating segregation.

In the reaching out to each other with phone check-ins and drive-by drop-offs 

In the efforts to be a voice for the voiceless

God be praised – Alleluia!

 

I have seen the Lord!

In the work towards peace and justice and equality.

In the fearlessness in trying new technologies, and the grace the triumphs every little hiccup.

In the flexibility of changing plans – and changing plans – and changing plans.

God be praised – Alleluia! 

 

WHY do we do all this? Sure it’s nice to do, but there’s more to it. We do it for Jesus. Because Jesus is here! Because the Lord is risen. 

Because we have opened our eyes to the truth of Jesus – the Risen Christ.

We have opened our ears to the Good News of the Gospel.

We have opened our hearts to the glory of God. 

 

Knowing that Jesus is more than a teacher – more than a rabbi – more than we can ask or imagine!

 

He is Jesus. Saviour, Redeemer, Living God. 

The Lord. The Risen Lord!

And he shows himself to us. 

And he calls us. 

He calls us by name, he wakes us from our stupor, he inspires us into action.

But first, he stirs in our hearts the truth that cannot be hidden, that will not be denied, that cannot be kept silent. 

 

I have seen the Lord.

Because the Lord Jesus wants to be seen. 

He wants to be part of our lives.

He wants to be known by all we encounter, as we celebrate Easter this day, and every day. 

 

I have seen the Lord.

WE HAVE SEEN THE LORD!

 

And our lives will never be the same. 

For we have seen the Lord. 

God be praised – Alleluia!

Amen.