Sermon Easter Vigil

 The world can be a confusing place.

There are times for all of us when we are bewildered – confused – entirely baffled.

We do not understand what is happening.

And that’s normal: for all of us.

Yet: even when things are the most confusing, we come to God.

Because God can make sense out of anything.

And the Resurrection – the meaning of Easter – is truly something that goes beyond what our minds can comprehend.

And so we come to God:

Because God brings everything together.

There’s a totality with God: and that’s a theme throughout the readings today.

This holy night, where things that are logical don’t make sense, and things that are impossible are – in fact – real.

God brings it all together.

Sun and moon;

human and divine;

Light and dark;

ordinary and exceptional;

heaven and earth.

God brings it all together in a mystical totality that continues to amaze us.

The very way that we know the date of Easter is a connection between the solar and lunar calendars: for Easter falls on the first Sunday after the First Full Moon after the Spring Equinox. (It’s why it moves every year): And God brings them together for this most spectacular feast, that we participate in.

Then humanity and divinity are brought together – as all our readings tonight tell the story of God interacting with God’s people: from the very beginning of creation through the history of being God’s people: a history of faith that is ours, and that we continue even now.

And we start in darkness, and journey to light: the lighting of the new flame – symbolised here with our candles. The darkness of the world, and the light of Christ shining into it. And the darkness of the tomb and the brightness of the angelic messengers. God brings together light and dark this night.

The ordinary: some bread and wine; some water and oil. These normal things become extraordinary as we celebrate holy sacraments of baptism and eucharist: where the inconceivable presence of God becomes tangible: we touch and smell and taste the divine in these simple elements; by the grace of God alone.

The heavenly and the earthly are entirely interconnected: from the very beginning before creation – when nothing made sense – to the resurrection, where even Peter was left wondering what had happened. God is within every created thing – including us – and God’s love has touched every created thing – including us. And when God looks over all creation and declares it VERY good; God is not making a value judgement, but a statement of completion.

And so here we are: celebrating the totality of God in our midst: for God is here; connecting, combining, making complete all of those things that we see as opposite.

And we celebrate that with a covenant: a covenant that links us with the created order: for God never forgets the created world.

It’s a covenant that links us with each other: for God gifted us with a community to remind us that we are never alone.

And it’s a covenant that promises us the power of life over death; even when the limitations of this world seem to be an end; Jesus gives us a new beginning.

So tonight: we embrace the totality of God: in all things, at all times, with all people.

We are surrounded by all of those who have gone before us: knowing that their love still lives in us.

We are surrounded by all those who walk with us: as we support each other through whatever this life may give us.

We are surrounded by those who will come after us: having shared with them the good news of God: through the risen and living Christ.

With God, nothing is impossible: even when it’s confusing to us.

It’s what we call faith.

Faith that God is with us;

That God loves us.

That God has forgiven us.

And that God delights in our being part of the ongoing story.

This is the promise of Easter: that God’s love is total.

There’s nothing we can do to make God love us any more; there’s nothing we can do to make God love us any less.

It’s what the bible tells us;

It’s what our families and friends tell us;

It’s what Jesus tells us.

It’s what we tell the world when we say Happy Easter!

So let’s rejoice in the complete and perfect love of God, this Easter – and always.