Easter Sunday 2018

Revd. Canon Leonard Doolan

 

Alleluia! Christ is risen!   He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Today is Alleluia day – in fact the beginning of 50 Alleluia days leading through to Pentecost. The church has real stamina. We keep going. Most people think Easter is one day – the church keeps Easter for 50 days.

In fact it is more than 50 days – every Sunday is a day when we celebrate the resurrection, the Lord’s day. Every time we celebrate a baptism we celebrate the resurrection.  Every person baptized is an Alleluia person. Just think of that – each one of you here today is an Alleluia person. I’m so pleased that there are so many alleluias in church this morning.

However – You and I are also Good Friday people. Baptism is about the mystery of the cross as well as the mystery of the resurrection. We can’t have one without the other.

Think on this – so many of us here today, people of the cross and people of the empty tomb. We are God’s resurrection community, but also God’s crucified community.

I can’t name you all this morning, but God can.

You have come here today and God already knows every one of you by name. You are already familiar. You are his family, we are his family together here in this place – and in every place throughout the world where Christians meet to be the cross and empty tomb people. He is with his men and women where they are persecuted or prejudiced against for their faith. He knows us all by name.

Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb where Jesus has been placed. He is not there. She panics and runs to tell Peter and John. They come to corroborate the evidence of the empty tomb. What has happened to him? Mary asks a stranger and the stranger doesn’t have to give a long and complex explanation. What does he say? How does he explain the empty tomb? Simple! All he says is ‘Mary’. The risen Jesus only has to say her name, and she knows.

My friends, the risen Jesus knows you by name. By saying your name, you are family; you are  the Easter faith. As you come forward today to receive the bread and wine of the Easter table, I invite you simply to say your name, and then to receive the body and blood of the risen Christ.

It is a simple Easter message – it is the gospel, the good news. The risen Christ knows you by name. If you are not coming forward to receive the bread and wine, come and receive a blessing, and say your name. When we share the peace together, especially with those we don’t know, also say to your neighbour who you are. At the brunch afterwards say your name especially to people you don’t know or don’t usually speak to.

By the time you leave this church today to live as Christians in the real world, you will feel different, because you are different. The risen Christ has named you.  Alleluia! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!