Sermon Cloud

A young child once said to his mother while walking home from school on Holy Thursday, ‘Mom, I’m really looking forward to having four days off school.  I want to spend lots of time playing with my friends and just relaxing.’  The mother thought for a moment and responded, ‘That sounds like a good idea.  You can spend all the time you want with friends, once we have been to church tonight, and don’t forget about tomorrow, and Saturday night and of course Sunday morning.’  The little boy responded almost immediately, ‘Do you mean to tell me that we have to go to church that many times?  If I had known that, I would have stayed in school’.

Over these past couple of days, God’s people have gathered to celebrate some of the most sacred moments in our faith history.  Beginning with the example of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, and the institution of the Eucharist which he first shared with his closest friends, we have recounted the story of his passion and death, and now we gather to celebrate the fulfillment of God’s divine plan.

Although these liturgies have taken place over the space of three days, in reality they are parts of one liturgical action.  The supreme act of love which Jesus offered by dying on the cross is remembered every time we celebrate the Eucharist.  As we share his body and blood, we too enter into the mystery of his resurrection, and celebrate his ultimate victory.

Like the women who first discovered the truth of the resurrection in the early hours of that first Easter day, we too must discover the empty tomb, and come to believe in the truth that it proclaims: that Christ has overcome death and that the promise of life awaits.

The joyous truth of the resurrection which we celebrate at Easter is not always easy to understand or accept.  Even during the past year, much has changed in our world.  For some people here among us, lives have changed.  Some of our loved ones who were here last year are no longer among mortals.  Others among us have learned stark realities about our own mortality, and yet we give thanks.

As we celebrate this Easter, let us be mindful of those who find it most difficult to believe, either because they are afraid, or because there is doubt about the future, or perhaps because human nature is weak, especially when it comes to certain tests of faith.  Let us also give thanks to God for the gift of life, and the Eucharist that is given for the life of the world.

In a few days’ time, when we return to the regular routines of life and find ourselves back in school or at work, let us not be afraid to proclaim the truths we have celebrated here: truths about the abiding love of our God, a love that knows no limits, a love that was lived out in Jesus giving his life for us.  Let us take up the challenge to be people of the resurrection, making a difference in our world by the way we live out the Father’s command to love one another as we ourselves have been loved.

Happy Easter!