Do You Believe in the Resurrection?
Mikell Chapel
11:25 A.M
The Sunday of the Resurrection
Colossians3:1-4
Matthew 28:1-10.
Proper Preface: Easter
A Sermon preached by the Reverend Carolynne G. Williams
Alleluia, Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia.
If we listen closely, we may even hear the word heaven a few times today.
For those who were not here to see and hear the magnificent Easter Vigil this morning at 6:00 a.m. , let me recapture some of this for you. The parishioners, clergy, choir, acolytes, and others were gathered on the horseshoe. On the grass, in the green plaza within the horseshoe, a great fire, built by and attended to by the Cathedral’s boy scouts was in full view. The wind tossed the fire about igniting the heart of each person witnessing this event. The Ruah, the Holy Spirit, embraced us and this great fire as it emblazoned with some restrain. Our physical view of this fire symbolized a new beginning.
After greetings, prayers and proclamations were given, the new Paschal candle was lit from the great fire. From the great Paschal candle, individual candles were lit symbolizing the light of Christ that we all have within as Christians. The body of Christ was in movement. The cathedral was completely dark. As we entered being led by the light of the Paschal candle Faces were aglow with continued anticipation of the words, readings, The Exultant, prayers and hymnody to come.
We celebrate on this Easter Sunday the Resurrection of our Lord. The one season sets the mark for the commencing of the great 50 days of Easter. What are the great 50 days of Easter? The great 50 days of Easter is a marked time set aside for those who believe in the promise of God to move forward, as an Easter people celebrating the Freedom and joy that is carried forth into the world and acknowledged at this time in our lives. We are an Easter people publicly, acknowledging that Jesus and Lord and Christ is risen.
The Great Easter Vigil this morning at 6:00 a.m. was celebrated. Bells were ringing; the new Paschal candle received light and was processed into a completely dark church. The darkness represented the shadows in our lives that can rule us and control us rather. The light permeating this darkness influenced us to move forward and trust in the light of Christ in our lives. The light overshadowing the darkness.
Bringing a new light into a dark space where we worship and praise God directs to a new beginning. The new light directs those who believe in him, thus his return from a shameful and horrid death, demonstrates a promise fulfilled. A new beginning. Because of his obedience, because of him fulfilling the will of God, we do not have to fear death. We do not have to fear our lives ending as we know it because there is God. There is one who walked on the earth in the person of Jesus over 2000 years ago. Because he was obedient to his father Jesus completed his work here on earth and died. Following his death, after three days he was resurrected. The stone was rolled away from the tomb when the women arrived at the tomb. The women were first. The women were there and were told by the angel these words: “Do not be afraid, I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified, he is not here for he has been raised.”
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there. The women were at the tomb. When they went to the tomb, they were not going as mourners; they were going with the confidence of disciples. They had seen the work that had been done, the miracles performed, the healing of the sick, the demons being cast out.
They trusted. In the gospel of Mark, all of the disciples flee before the Crucifixion is done. They flee before it is finished. The two Mary’s, Mary Magdalene and the mother of Jesus remained at the sight of the crucifixion .They later go to the sepulcher, the place where he was buried to “see”. This is when they find the stone rolled away.
They later attested to the fact that Jesus was indeed resurrected after they met him on the road. After meeting him on the road they immediately recognized him. They told others about him being alive. The disciples did the same. They told others on their way to Galilee that Jesus was risen from the dead.
On this day, those who believe in him are told that we will never perish. We are told that we shall never die because we die in Christ. The words of the burial office in the Book of Common Prayer are
“I am the Resurrection and I am life, says the Lord,
Whoever has faith in me shall have life,
And everyone who has life,
And has committed himself to me in faith, shall not die forever.”
It takes faith to believe that when we die, we will live forever in Christ.
It takes faith to believe that there is eternal life.
It takes faith to believe in a God that loves each of us so much that he died on a cross for us and rose again to help us begin a new life.
We have to become awake with hope to accept that possibility. Our forefathers and foremothers and others who have gone before us are waiting for the day when we will be with the Lord who they serve and who now is our Father. The book of Colossians turns our minds and hearts toward heaven. It turns us toward those things which are above and away from earthly things. The saints who are with us know this and are able to stand with our God. We have angels to watch over us. We have the love of God to sustain us and we have the promise of the Resurrection to see us through.
One of the joys that I can attest to as a priest is occasionally having the privilege of being with one who dies. It is such a Holy Time. It is a time that is there for each of us. Sometimes this Holy time is in one’s own home, other times it may be in a hospice and other times in a hospital. It is a time that the incarnation of God manifests itself and we become complete in God. Not complete in ourselves but in God. The presence of the love fills the space that we occupy and more. Like Mary Magdalene, we don’t have to wait until the last hour. We can believe and get to know God by doing what we do each day of our lives. We can live getting to know God or we can live outside of God. The choice is ours. This is why the light of a new beginning is so important.
A new beginning, a new light showing us the way.
In this new light we know that we have been forgiven for our sins.
We know that we can begin anew.
We can live for the one who brought us here to do his will.
God is interested in a relationship with us. God is interested in us and wants us to get to know God’s presence in our lives. By knowing, by understanding and trusting we too are building a relationship with our creator. This is done with the assistance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is within us and guides us through the events of our lives. Oftentimes we are not as aware as we could be of the presence of God. The Resurrection is not to be identified with faith in an empty tomb.
The Resurrection is affirmed by the entire New Testament.
The risen Christ lived then and lives today.
If you are still not quite sure about the life of Christ and how we are influenced, reflect when you have a moment and really look at the circumstances you were facing or have faced. I am reflecting as well. Go to those times in your life that as you recall them, you know that only through the grace of God were you able to come through the muck and mire. If these circumstances called for you to reach beyond yourself, I would venture to say that God was present.
The light of Christ is within each of us.
The light of Christ is there for us to behold.
Behold the new creation.
Look at the new beginning.
Consider during the great fifty days of Easter where God is in your life.
I will do the same.
Is God in politics?
Is God involved in war?
Is God there when we are in pain and when we are joyous?
Where is God when we need the presence of the holiness in our lives?
We only need to look into the face of one another. We can look at ourselves and trust with faith the size of a grain of a mustard seed
Jesus said to the disciples and to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary.
“Do not be afraid”. Go and tell my brothers, Go and tell my sisters to go to Galilee , they will see me. If we look for the presence of God we will see. If we trust in the presence of God we will seek God’s face. If we believe in the Resurrection we will have hope.
Hope will give us new life where we thought we were finished.
Hope will give us a perception that is life giving.
Hope will give us a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Where there is hope there is life.
Where there is life, there is an awakening.
Where there is an awakening, we live each day to the fullest.
Trusting and believing through our faith.
Faith carries a light and the light will see us through.
The light of Christ is with us.
Alleluia, the Lord is risen indeed.
Amen.
Comments? Contact The Rev. Carolynne Williams: cwilliams@stphilipscathedral.org