God Our Companion
St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Owings Mills MD
April 5, 2026
Easter Day
Acts 10: 34-43
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
Colossians 3:1-4
John 20:1-18
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
In today’s gospel lesson, it’s early on the first Easter morning.
Although it’s so early in the morning that’s it’s still dark, Mary Magdalene visits Jesus’ tomb.
Just like Jesus’ other friends and followers, no doubt Mary Magdalene had been bewildered and traumatized by all that had happened in Jerusalem over the last few days.
First there was Jesus’ triumphant entry, greeted by the crowds shouting “Hosanna!” and spreading palms and their cloaks on the road – there was so much excitement and hope as the king entered his capital city.
But then everything seemed to go wrong – what Mary Magdalene and Peter and the others had hoped was going to be a glorious victory suddenly became what looked like a crushing and shameful defeat.
Jesus was betrayed by one of his own, arrested, tortured, mocked, and killed in a most public way – a stark warning from the “powers that be” to anyone else who might challenge the ways of the world – anyone else who might try to bring God’s kingdom to earth.
What a heartbreak.
Most of Jesus’ friends were keeping a low profile, understandably frightened that the authorities who had killed Jesus were coming for them next.
How frightened and lonely they all must have been!
But on the first Easter morning, Mary Magdalene somehow overcame her fears and visited the tomb. We’re not told why she’s there - maybe even she doesn’t exactly know why she’s there – maybe Mary just wants to be as close to Jesus as she can be - maybe this is all she can think of doing.
Well, you just heard what happened next.
Mary Magdalene discovers that the tomb is open – and traumatized Mary assumes the worst. Horror after horror.
Mary ran to get help from Peter and the other disciple but they’re no help at all.
And then there’s Mary Magdalene, alone, weeping, overwhelmed with grief.
But then something unexpected: angels asking why she’s weeping, which must have seemed like a pretty stupid, even cruel question.
And then, finally, someone else enters the scene – maybe it’s the gardener – and he asks the same question.
But then this gardener calls her by name, “Mary!”
And Mary, she knows that voice - and now Mary knows the most unexpected news - the Good News – Mary Magdalene knows the best news of all time:
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
It’s not an accident that the Resurrection took place in a garden.
The garden is a reminder of where the story of God and us began.
And the garden is also where everything went wrong, where the first people did exactly what they were not supposed to do - so human! - and they discovered those most unpleasant feelings of shame and fear and loneliness.
And, worst of all, they tried to hide from God.
They didn’t answer when God called, “Where are you?”
During Holy Week, I thought a lot about that story and how it reveals God’s desire to be with us, to be our companion.
God’s great desire to accompany us.
And God’s most unexpected and most daring attempt to accompany us is Jesus.
In and through Jesus, God comes among us in a new, unprecedented, and eternal way – a way stronger than the “powers that be” – a way stronger than even death itself.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Early on that first dark Easter morning, Mary Magdalene was alone – alone with her grief and her fear.
And the truth is that in our own time there are lots of people who are alone – lots of people who feel lonely, even if, maybe especially if, they are surrounded by people.
For many of us, the troubles of the world and the problems of our own lives weigh heavily and make us feel very alone – especially when it seems like everybody else is having a great time.
In fact, I’m sure there are people here right now feeling alone, even amid all this beauty and joy.
But on the first Easter, Mary Magdalene discovered that she was not alone – and that she would never truly be alone again.
God is once again as close to us as God was to the first people in the garden – closer, actually.
In and through Jesus, God is with us – God is our companion – God is accompanying us – God is right here with us celebrating our joys and mourning our sorrows.
In and through Jesus, God is with us – God is our companion - God is accompanying us, giving us strength, courage, and wisdom - and God will never let go of us, no matter what.
In the words of the priest and poet John Donne:
“Christ is at home with you, he is at home within you, and there is the nearest way to find him.”
Although it’s Easter, all the many troubles of our world and of our own lives remain, but we can face the future together, without fear, faithfully
Because…
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Amen.
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