Sermon Easter Sunday 2025

Acts 10. 34-43 summery of Jesus’ death and resurrection

John 20. 1-8 Mary Magdalen discovers Jesus, and he says her name

Lent course diving deeply into Baptism

God calls us.

Over lent we have been exploring baptism and what that means to us as Christians. We are each on our own journey of faith with God. For some that might look like coming to church most Sundays and being part of a Christian community. For others, their journey of faith may have meant a time away from being part of a community of faith or never having been part of one at all. However often something inside will draw us back to God. As Augustine says, our hearts are wrestles until they find their rest in you.

During our Lent course we have been considering earth, water, wind and fire and how these elements relate to us as God’s children. On Ash Wednesday the cross of ash is put on our foreheads and the pray ‘you are dust and to dust you shall return, turn away from sin and stay faithful to Christ,’ is said. We are all created from the dust of the earth and through baptism our sins are washed away by water. We are putting an end to our sinful selves and accepting the life that God wishes us to have. A life where we are sustained by God’s living water shared with us by the working of the Holy Spirit. The work of the Spirit moves among us like the wind that blows. Sometimes it is a gentle breeze and at other times is a strong wind that encourages us to move one way or the other. When we listen to the spirit, sometimes we will feel the warmth of its fire within us, sustaining us in our conviction of God’s call on our lives. The fire that is within us is not so strong that we will be consumed by it, like the burning bush that Moses saw is not consumed, but the fire will give us the strength to do the will of God.

On Easter Day as we celebrate Jesus being raised from death to new life, we have an opportunity to each be raised from our sinful lives into a new life with Christ. We renew our baptism promises and are reminded of Jesus life giving water and pray that this will sustain us throughout the year. As Christians we know what joy comes from our belief in God and how Jesus’ life and resurrection saves us from the death of sin and brings us to new life. However, for others to experience this joy takes courage and a leap of faith. It takes someone to listen to that still small voice within them but also to be welcomed into a community of faith. As disciples of Christ, we are called to share the good news of Jesus’ life and death with others and to welcome all who come wanting to know more about Jesus and God. This is one of the reasons why here at St Mary’s we are trying to open this building more often, to offer people the opportunity to come into this place. To see the story of God in the stained-glass windows, to see the people of faith in this building helping and supporting people. Being part of a community of faith brings a sense of belonging and support, but to those who aren’t part of that community, it can make people feel excluded and unsure. If we think about the language of our services, they clearly talk to those who are already members of the family of God. This is why offering other opportunities to come into this space and feel welcomed are so important.

I was talking to another priest recently and they said that they loved the secret language that we have as Christians that develops over time. I do understand what they meant, when you get into a habit of talking to God, reading scripture and worship you become familiar with the language that other Christian’s use. However, I challenged them and said that I felt it was this that sometimes made people not feel welcome. We can easily slip into patterns of behaviour where we assume everyone knows what’s happening, or what is being said, when actually the opposite is true.

When Jesus gathered his disciples around him, he didn’t ask people who were Pharisees or scribes to follow him, he asked tax collectors and fishermen. Each of us, no matter how long we have been a Christian, or whether we profess not to be a Christian, is of infinite value to a Christian community. We need to be open and welcoming enough to enable all voices to be heard and valued. How can we share the good news of the gospels afresh for each person who comes into this place? The answer is within you. What is the Holy Spirit whispering or maybe even shouting at you to do to share Jesus’ story?

Today, we are celebrating that Jesus lived and ministered to all people, that he welcomed the marginalised and unappreciated to be his followers. That he opened his arms of love and died for them and for all of us on the Cross and finally that he defeated death and rose to new life. Let us as God’s children recognise that we are all made equally in the image of God and ask God how we can help others come to know more about Jesus Christ. Let us all listen to that still small voice within each of us, no matter whether we come to church ever Sunday or have never been before. Is that voice warming your heart and kindling a flame within you? Let us have hope that on this Easter Day our sins are washed away by the ever-living water that Jesus brought to us through his life. Let us have courage and trust that God is here among us and welcomes us all to his table.

Amen