Easter Vigil Reflection on Matthew 28

EASTER VIGIL REFLECTION on Matthew 28:1-10

Preacher: Pastor Carrie Smith

Alleluia, Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia!

^“So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.”

Fear and joy, which at first seem quite unrelated, can sometimes become mingled into one stomach-churning emotion.

I think of the day when, at age 20, I boarded an airplane by myself and flew across the ocean to study in Germany for a year. I had never flown by myself, much less to another country. But there I was, fearfully and joyfully flying toward this new life, with all my belongings packed into one suitcase, and my hair teased and sprayed into an impressive 90’s “poof” that I was sure would be a hit in Europe. (It wasn’t!)

Fear and great joy also propelled me down the aisle of the church on my wedding day, and accompanied me in those first terrifying and exciting days of motherhood.

Maybe you can recall some of those fearful/joyful moments, too. Do you remember how it felt when you, the new kid, walked into school that first day? How about your first day without a drink; the first time you said “I love you” and really meant it; or your first day on the job? I’ll never forget walking through the door that said “Pastor’s office” at my first call, and how the fear and joy together nearly brought me to my knees.

Fear mixes with joy in these moments because new life is both exciting and scary. The old life is more manageable. We know it better! We feel comfortable there—even when the old life promises only dead-ends, disappointment, and death.

And this is why, after learning of the resurrection, the women at the tomb didn’t stand around joyfully singing “alleluia”, but instead ran away with both fear and great joy. This Good News, this new life, was a radical departure from anything they had ever known, and it sent Mary Magdalene and the other Mary running with mixed emotions from the empty tomb.

An angel had sent them on their way, of course, charging them with the responsibility to go quickly and share the Good News with the disciples. One could assume that’s what they intended to do. But perhaps Jesus knew how quickly fear can overtake even great joy, because partway down the path he suddenly appeared to the women.

As if they weren’t scared before, can you imagine what it was like to see Jesus suddenly popping up in the roadway? Pop goes the Savior! “Greetings!” he said. Subtlety really isn’t God’s strong suit…

But after the women had recovered, the very first words from the risen Christ are: “Do not be afraid.” 

Do not be afraid, he said. It really is me! Now go, and tell the others that you’ve seen me!

Alleluia, Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Romans chapter 6 proclaims: “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. …So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” You, sisters and brothers, are alive in Christ Jesus. The resurrection life is your new life! And the first thing the risen Christ wants us to know about our new life in him is this: Do not be afraid.

Easy enough for him to say, right?

There will always be moments in life when fear is part of the equation. But what would it mean to live a life motivated not by fear, but by joy?

Too often, the Easter message comes across as “Christ is risen! Alleluia! Now go, quickly, and follow the rules! And try not to get into trouble!”

But what if living in the light of the resurrection isn’t about staying on the path, following the rules, or living in fear of each mistake?

What if the resurrection life liberates us to speak the truth, love generously, accept difference, embrace change, and remain open to possibilities? What if this new life releases us from living dangerously and frees us to take risks?

After all….What are you afraid of?

Embarrassment? Losing face or losing friends? Being seen as foolish? Being wrong? Or is it the fear of death that holds you back?

Sisters and brothers, the Good News of Easter liberates us from all these fears, especially the fear of death. Now that Jesus has broken the bonds of death and has been raised, we have nothing left to fear. “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” From now on, no matter where life leads us—even through the valley of the shadow of death—we go with these words of Jesus ringing in our ears:  Be not afraid!

That’s what this night and this Easter Vigil liturgy is all about, after all.

From the creation to the flood, from the parting of the sea to the fiery furnace, the message is the same: Be not afraid! God is with you!

This is what we want our children to know deep in their hearts, isn’t it? This is why we teach them these stories! This is why we raise them in the church! This is why we sing these songs, pray these prayers, and gather at this table—so that our children and our children’s children will know they need not be afraid.

Tonight, as we celebrate with five brand–new saints who have come to be baptized into Christ, my hope is that they hear these words, loud and clear. 

And if they aren’t old enough to remember, then you, my sisters and brothers, will be promising in a few moments to share these words until they are written on their hearts:

Do not be afraid, Brock, because God created the whole world, and called it good—and that includes you!

Do not be afraid, Brody, because goodness is stronger than evil.

Do not be afraid, Nikolas, because with God all things are possible.

Do not be afraid, Corrine, because you are never alone. God is with you!

Do not be afraid, Olivia, because no matter what anyone else says, you will always be Olivia, Child of God.

Friends in Christ, children of God, Easter people, do not be afraid, for Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Easter Vigil: April 7, 2012

EASTER VIGIL 2012: April 7, 2012

John 20:1-18

Preacher: Pastor Carrie Smith

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Alleluia, Christ is risen!

Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia!

In case you hadn’t heard already…I love Easter Vigil. I love it, because on this one night of the year, we have the opportunity to step outside our routine, to leave behind the daily grind, to forget alarm clocks and appointment reminders, naptime and deadlines, and to enter God’s story.

Earlier today we may have been doing chores, mowing the lawn, coloring eggs, or working a Saturday shift. But on this night, when we arrive at the Vigil, we find ourselves, young and old, visitors and old-timers, choir members and back-pew sitters, all gathered around a blazing fire. And then, starting with creation, we become part of the stories that have formed our understanding of the world (and of God) since we were tiny children.

This is the night, we proclaim, when God made the whole world: the earth and the water, the sky and the stars, the creeping things, flying things, and swimming things, and especially you and me.

This is the night when God saved Noah from the flood, rescuing the world from its self-destruction, and giving us the rainbow as a promise to never, ever, send such a flood again.

This is the night when Abraham and Isaac went up the mountain in obedience to God’s command, and while there were overwhelmed by God’s abundant mercy.

This is the night when God parted the waters of the sea so Moses and the Israelites could cross!

This is the night when Miriam danced, singing praises to God!

This is the night when the prophet Isaiah wrote: Ho, all who thirst, come to the waters!

This is the night when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (also known as Rack, Shack, and Benny) refused to bow down to the king, and found out that with God on their side, not a spark of flame from the fiery furnace could touch them.

And this is the night when we gather to hear again how Jesus Christ—born of a virgin, visited by kings, followed by fishermen, crucified by Pilate and buried in a tomb—was raised by God on the third day, giving us all the promise of new life.

Alleluia, Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia!

And this therefore the night when we hear how Jesus, after he had risen from the grave, appeared to Mary, calling her by name.

Mary Magdalene, devoted follower of Jesus, felt lost when she arrived to the tomb and couldn’t find his body. Her despair only increased when she saw a man she thought was the gardener (or possibly a grave-robber)—until he called her by name. Jesus called Mary by name, and in that moment she knew that this was not the end of the story. She knew, when she heard that familiar voice, that Jesus, crucified and risen, had taken away the finality of death. And on this night, we, too, become witnesses to the Good News that death does not have the final word.

Alleluia, Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed, alleluia!

When Jesus called Mary by name that morning, he invited her into the resurrection story. In the same way, we are each called by name and welcomed into new life with the risen Christ in our baptisms.

Tonight, when they were brought to the water, Caden and Ryan heard these words: “Child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.” In baptism, Caden and Ryan have been called by name and have been claimed as God’s beloved children. They are now part of God’s story, and we rejoice that they will have a lifetime of hearing the story of God’s redeeming work in the world, and knowing they are part of it.

Baptizing during the Easter Vigil, often after months or even years of preparation, is a very ancient tradition. It’s also traditional at this service to read the famous Easter sermon of St. John Chrysostom. St. John Chrysostom wrote this sermon in the 4^th century and meant it as instructions for the new Christian converts who were being baptized during that vigil service.

In keeping with that tradition, and in honor of Caden and Ryan’s baptisms tonight, I will read this short Easter sermon now.

Alleluia, Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Are there any who are devout lovers of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!

Are there any who are grateful servants?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!

If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour,
let him with gratitude join in the Feast!
And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.
For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.

To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.
He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.
The deed He honors and the intention He commends.
Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!

First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!
You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!

Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.

Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.
He destroyed Hell when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.

Isaiah foretold this when he said,
"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."
Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.

Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.

O death, where is thy sting?
O Hell, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!

Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!


The Easter sermon of John Chrysostom (circa 400 AD)