English Eastern service with sermon (Matthew 28,1-10)
by Daniela Mertz
Leamington; 10:30
Easter Sunday 3/23/2008
Greetings and Announcements P: Christ is risen. C: He is risen indeed! Call to worship P: Come and see, come and rejoice. God calls us together for a celebration. C: We have come seeking Jesus of Nazareth. We want to know the One who comforts and heals. P: Enter into this time of worship and thanksgiving; receive once more the good news of peace. C: God is our strength and our song; God has acted in Christ for our salvation. P: The gates of righteousness have opened to you, Jesus promises to meet you along life’s way. C: Christ is risen: What a joyous moment! Christ is risen; we want to tell the world. Entrance Hymn: Jesus Christ is risen today 151 Apostolic Greeting Kyrie Hymn of praise: This is the feast Prayer of the Day P: Let us pray Prayer of the Day: God of our Sabbath times and of all the days that follow, break through the defenses we have erected to shut you our, Meet us among the tombs we visit in our despair, and call our names once more. At the feet of Jesus we would now worship and learn so our discipleship may be reclaimed and strengthened. We want to tell the world the incredible story that love is alive and can make all the difference. Amen. First Reading: Acts 10,34-43 Psalm: 118,1-2,14-24 Choir Second Reading : Colossians 3,1-4 Alleluia Verse
Gospel
P:
The Holy Gospel according to
Matthew 28,1-10
Gospel
- Reading
P:
The Gospel of the Lord
C:
Praise to you, O Christ
Hymn: Thine is the Glory 145
Sermon:
Sisters and brothers in our Lord
Jesus Christ,
The day was just dawning when the two women were
heading to Jesus’ grave. They did not talk much. They each were lost
in their own strain of thoughts, tortured by haunting images of a
man, their dearest friend dying in agony on a cross. The last 48
hours had been a nightmare turning the lives of these women upside
down. Jesus death turned their hope into despair, their joy into
grief, their faith into uncertainty. Only their love survived the
dreadful days and grew even deeper.
As Jesus was crucified like an ordinary criminal.
Of course they hoped for a last minute miracle, as people often do,
when they have to face death. Hoping for a miracle to save them or a
loved one from certain death. But there was no miracle. No
courageous bystanders, who would have rescued Jesus from the Roman
soldiers; no host of angels; not the smallest sign of heavenly
intervention on behalf of Jesus. That Friday afternoon de died just
like the two criminals next to him; a haunting nightmare.
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary they must have
been strong women. For them to get up, while the other disciples and
friends of Jesus were still in a state of shock, says something
about these two women. It tells something about the power of their
love for Jesus. And now, as the day broke, they were on their way to
the grave. To make sure everything was as it should be or if there
was any work to be done around the resting place of their loved one
Jesus, say a prayer, remember him. People do that. We do that, when
someone we love dies and is buried. We go and visit the grave. I
remember how an old lady in Billingshausen used to visit her
husbands grave once in a while. Arranging flowers, remove weeds here
and there and all the while softly talking to her husband. As if he
was there. Maybe that’s what Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
wanted to do too, be close to Jesus, talk to him, visit a little
bit. Find some comfort.
But instead they
fell right into the next shock. And it must have been an
electrifying shock:
Suddenly there was a great
earthquake for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came
and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like a
lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the
guards shook and became like dead men.
Brothers and sisters, what an
incredible experience; unbelievable some might say. And I am sure,
that’s what the Pharisees said, as soon as they received note of
the empty grave. They said: “This is not true!” Which is why Matthew
not only tells us about the two women, but also about the Roman
guards. They too witnessed the incredible things which happened that
morning: They were standing at the grave, keeping watch, when Easter
morning broke; with lightning and angels. And then their knees gave
out and they passed out and sank to the ground as I certainly would
have, if I had been there. You see, we confess that we believe in
the resurrection of the dead, every Sunday, but just like Mary
Magdalene and the other Mary we believe that this will happen
sometime in the future, not now. And then to imagine that the future
was happening right in front of our very eyes. And it isn’t future
any more and we are right in the middle.
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
must have been so scared! But then they saw and heard the angel
speak. Victoriously he sat on the huge rock which had locked the
entrance of the grave just a few minutes before. He turned to the
trembling women, saying: Do not be afraid: I know that you are
looking for Jesus who was crucified.” And then he goes on: “He is
not here: for he has been raised, as he said.”
And as if to proof the angel
gestured the women to step forward and see for themselves the empty
grave. He said: “come and see the place where he lay.” And right
away he gave them instructions: “Go quickly and tell his disciples:
He has raised from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to
Galilee, there you will see him. This is my message for you.”
And what a message this is; the
message of Easter, of this Easter morning, too. “Christ is risen. He
is risen indeed!” From what Matthew tells us, the two women did not
doubt these words one instant. They did not hesitate one moment.
They didn’t even have to look into the grave to make sure the angel
was telling the truth. They were overwhelmed by fear and joy.
But joy won over and they turned
around to ran as fast as they could to tell the disciples about the
risen Jesus. And just as they turned around they even met Jesus. He
greeted them as usual and now there was no fear nor horror any more.
They fell down and touched him. And Jesus even talked to them,
saying: “Do not be afraid.” This is the second time, Mary and her
friend are told not to be afraid that morning. But that’s how Jesus
talks to us: “Do not be afraid”. You do not have to be afraid of me.
I love you, no matter what.
Sisters and brothers, some
theologians argue that the two verses about the women meeting Jesus
were inserted into the gospel at a later date. They argue that the
meeting of Jesus and the women is not necessary for the logic of the
events and the flow of the story. That the women had been told of
the resurrection by the angel and that his word was enough for
them. And while I was writing this sermon I thought: actually this
is a comforting thought. In order to believe in the resurrection, we
don’t have to lay eyes on the risen Jesus. But we are gathered on
this Easter morning to hear the good news that the crucified has
destroyed the power of death. And I think if to hear the good news
from a witness was enough for the women in the gospel, it is enough
for me, too. It is enough for me to say: I believe, Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed, so we may live with him.
For us as Christians death is not
the end. It’s not like a black whole drawing in our beloved
relatives or friends for ever. Because Easter teaches us: Christ is
risen, so we may live. Christ calls to live those who passed away,
believing in him. We don’t know, what this will be like, but we
don’t need to be afraid, that’s for sure. Jesus keeps telling us so.
I remember a woman whose mother
died very suddenly. They had loved each other dearly. And the woman
told me that she still felt very close to her mother, as if she was
“alive”, she felt that there was still a connection between -
though she knew very well, that her mother had passed away. She
asked me, if I think that is right to fell this way. Yes, I think
that it is – as the lady could still talk to her husband on the
cemetery.
Because of Eastern we believe
that death is not the end. That our deceased remain in the hands of
God.
And with many various signs we
show this belief.
Once a year I used to visit the
local cemetery with my school children. First I gave them time to
look at the graves and discover the signs of death. They showed me
the crosses and the grave stones, the names that were written on
them. Later I sent them to look for the signs of life and our faith
in resurrection. And they always found a lot. The flowers of course,
or signs engraved in the stones. One I particularly liked was the
one that showed a huge sun rising behind a cross. On some of the
stones they found angels that remind the families of the first
witness of the resurrection.
The two Marys believed the angel.
And ever since the generations of Christians have believed and
witnessed that death is not the end. Yes we have to die, yes, we
will mourn and grief, but that is not the end of the story. And the
reason for it is this Easter morning. Knowing, that we can not fall
out of God’s hands – not in this world, nor in the world to come.
For Christ is risen. He is risen indeed! Amen.
Hymn:
Nicene Creed: (Let
us confess) Page 84
Prayers of the church:
Rejoicing in the wonder of new life in Jesus
Christ,
Let us pray for the church, the world, and all of
God’s creation.
For the church, that built on the cornerstone of
Jesus Christ, we may be witnesses of the hope revealed through his
death and resurrection.
God of life: hear our prayer.
For your creation, that rocks and valleys, trees
and plants and all living things may reflect your steadfast love.
God of life: hear our prayer.
For the world, that nations bound
by the destructive forces of violence, injustice, and poverty may be
opened to the peace, freedom, and richness that comes from you
alone.
God of life: hear our prayer.
For the terrified, and those
consumed by the mysteries and sufferings of this world, that they
may receive consolation from the body of Christ.
God of life: hear our prayer.
For this assembly, that this
festival day awaken us to the wonder of living, and send us out to
those whose celebrating may be diminished by loneliness, illness, or
grief.
God of life: hear our prayer.
For all who have died in the
faith and for those who still journea on earth, that, buried with
Christ in baptism, we may rise to sing the unending victory song.
God of life: hear our prayer.
Accept these prayers and the
prayers of our hearts, O God, for the sake of the crucified and
risen one, Jesus Christ, our redeemer.
Sharing the peace
The peace of the Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us share the peace.
Mosaic
Offertory
Offertory Prayer:
Creator of all, you wash away our
sins in water, you give us new birth by the Spirit, and redeem us in
the blood of Christ. As we celebrate the resurrection, renew you
gift of life within us. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, the
risen Lord. Amen.
The Great Thanksgiving
Holy, holy, holy
Words of Institution
The Lord’s prayer
Lamb of God
The Distribution
Postcommunion canticle
Postcommunion prayer
P: Benediction
P:
Blessings:
The Lord bless us and keep us.
The Lord make his face shine on
us
And be gracious to us.
The Lord look upon uns with favor
And give us peace.
Hymn
Go in peace, serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
