Sermon for Easter Sunday 2023 – 9th April 2023

Fr Leonard Doolan – St Paul’s Athens

 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 officially 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.

 

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 daughters and sons 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 he is risen.

 

My friends, the risen Jesus knows you by name. By saying your name, you are family; you are the evidence of the Easter faith. As you come forward today to receive the bread and wine of the Easter table.

 

It is a simple Easter message – it is the gospel, the good news. The risen Christ knows you by name. When you share the Peace today, also share your name with your neighbour. There is a brunch after the Liturgy this morning – speak with someone you have not spoken to before – and say your name.

 

By the time you leave this church today to live as Christians in the community, you will feel different, because you are different. The risen Christ knows you by name.  Alleluia! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!