St. Paul’s Church in
Bergen, Jersey City NJ
April 19, 2014
The Great Vigil of
Easter
Romans 6:3-11
Psalm 114
Matthew 28:1-10
Do Not Be Afraid
“But
the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid’.”
Do
not be afraid.
Alleluia!
Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
We
live in a time of great fear, don’t we?
Many
of us worry.
We
worry about the economy. Will we find a job? Will we hold on to the job we
have?
We
worry about the environment. We worry what kind of planet we will leave to our
children and grandchildren.
We
worry about our health. Some of us are already sick others just fear what the
doctor will say on our next visit. Some of us aren’t worried about ourselves so
much as the health and wellbeing of those we love.
Yesterday
many of us had the powerful experience of walking the way of Christ through the
streets of Jersey City. One person described it to me as “haunting.” It was
haunting to consider how much violence occurs, how much despair lives in our
neighborhoods and in or homes. As we walked I found myself worrying that things
were just not going to ever get better.
We
worry. And I’m sure we worry about other things that I haven’t thought to
include in this sermon. I’m sure you can make your own list.
But,
the first thing the angel said to the women at empty tomb was, “Do not be
afraid.”
And
what does the risen Jesus say to the women when they meet him?
“Do
not be afraid.”
“Do
not be afraid.”
Alleluia!
Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
This
is the night when we are most clearly reminded that God is not going to let go
of us, no matter what.
This
is the night when we remember that God made all that is – and doesn’t give up
on us even when we mess it all up, when break God’s rules, when we ruin that
first beautiful garden.
This
is the night when we remember that God stands with us - by us - in us - no
matter what – especially when the odds are against us.
This
is the night when we remember that even when all hope is lost, when all that’s
left is a valley of very dry bones or the dead body of a crucified messiah, especially
when all hope is lost, God does what God always does, transform death into new
life.
Don’t
be afraid.
Alleluia!
Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
And,
finally, on this night we are reminded of the bond that God makes with us in
the water of baptism.
When
Adama first approached me about baptism, I admit that I “strongly encouraged”
her to have the baptism tonight. I told her that this is the night – the
absolute best time, really, to be baptized.
All
of those saving acts we heard read from the Bible happened a long time ago,
though they continue to echo through the ages.
But,
God just performed another saving act – tonight – right here at St. Paul’s.
As
Paul wrote to the Romans, in baptism we die with Christ.
So,
it may not have looked like it but, Adama and Aalim died with Christ tonight.
And
in an instant they began a new life.
They
began a new life, a resurrected life, a life permanently bonded with God.
Nothing
they do or don’t do – nothing we do or don’t do – can ever break the bond that
God makes with us in baptism.
I
love the word the Prayer Book uses: the bond is indissoluble.
And
what that really means is, yes things will go wrong, life will have many
challenges and failures and hurts.
But,
do not be afraid.
Alleluia!
Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
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