A sermon preached at Kowloon
Union Church on Sunday 1 April 2018, Easter Sunday, by the Rev. Phyllis Wong. The scripture readings that
day were Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; John
20:1-21.
Thank you so much
UCCP choir for the powerful song - ‘Gone, the
tomb is empty’, and friends of OBIC for your interpretive drama with the song
‘He’ sung by Wintley Phipps.
Both of your groups have shared the great message about Easter through
the arts of singing and creative acts. You really help me to keep my sermon
short.
The song “Gone, the tomb is empty” goes so well with the gospel story
we heard today.
The empty tomb is
a powerful image of God’s transforming power. Jesus, the risen Lord defeated the power of sin and won victory
over death.
In the empty
tomb, death has no more power. The
empty tomb inspires us to know this. It is life that speaks. It is joy that
speaks. It is hope that speaks. It is the grace of God that speaks.
The empty tomb
reminds us of the essence of Easter:
The resurrection
of Jesus triumphs over darkness. He affirms for us that no one can take away
our life, joy and hope in the midst of uncertainty, insecurity and persecution.
The song ‘HE’ and the drama of OBIC are so touching. They helped us to
revisit the spirit of Easter. Easter is not just about holiday, Easter eggs and
parties. The celebration of Easter takes us back to Jesus Christ, the one who
came to the world to forgive and to give new life for the sake of love. Jesus
came to calm the sea. If you
are in the storms of doubts, of stress, of uncertainties, of sadness, of
brokenness, come to Jesus, the risen Lord, he calms your storms of all kinds. Jesus,
the risen Lord who has overcome sin and death has the power to help us and save
us.
Jesus came to
listen to the prayer of a child. God cares for everyone, the strong and the
weak, the rich and the poor, the sinners and the saints. Jesus came to bring us
back to God, the Holy One who has created us in his holy image. God cares about
us and He wants us to reconnect with Him. God loves us so much that He has even
given up his life and suffered for us.
When Jesus called
the weeping Mary Magdalene by her name – ‘Mary!’, she immediately recognized
the man before him was Jesus, her master whom she loved and respected. The
resurrected Jesus who called us by our name has asked us to see him with a new
perspective. The Easter gospel reminds us to renew our faith and life. Let us
not try to find the living God in a dead person. The risen Jesus inspires us to
seek a faith of life that lives in the present, and not a faith of death that
lives in the past.
The living Christ
is no more living in the tomb. Too often
we are too attached to our old thinking, old habit and old pattern in our faith,
in our relationship with God and others, as well as in our life. We need to be
changed. We need to grow in our faith and in our life – to be a more mature
Christian, to be a more reflective person that lives in the present and see God
with new eyes.
When we celebrate
Easter and embrace the joy and hope Jesus brings to us and the world, we need
to make it meaningful by living here and now, no more attachment to the past,
no matter how good and sweet it could be. Neither do we allow the wounds and
misery in our past hinder us to move on, Jesus the risen Lord encourages us to let
go and have the courage to heal in the midst of pain.
Easter is about
change and doing new things for the sake of God, for the sake of love - for
God, for your good-self and for others. The recent massive demonstrations led
by students in the USA, have courageously asked for change, for stricter gun
control to prevent mass shootings. They challenged politicians to pass
legislation for gun control because it can no longer be delayed. Some young
people shared with tears in the demonstration because they suffered from gun
violence in one way or another. Some are survivors who managed to escape from
the shooting scene. Some lost their beloved family members or friends. But they
refuse to let these terrible events destroy their lives. They refuse to suffer
in silence and let the powerful politically and economically to get their way. They
stand and live out the Easter spirit of change – no more innocent death and
unjust suffering, but justice, love and peace!
Every year we
celebrate Easter. What is new and special for you this year? Change and be
transformed for the sake of love are what I ask of you.
To end my sermon,
I would like each one of us to pray silently and make a pledge before Jesus one
or two things that you wish to change.
It could be about
forgiveness and reconciliation with someone you love and care about, it could
be about healing of past wounds, it could be a more courageous life, more love
and caring to your family and the community you belong to, more study to equip
yourself for a more fulfilling life and engage in the mission that God has
called upon you.
Sisters and
brothers, let’s seek God and ask Jesus for the power of change and
transformation. I will end the silence with a bell and a prayer.
Closing prayer
Jesus Christ,
God of new life,
may your resurrection,
anchor us in hope once more.
Jesus
Christ, God of new possibilities,
deepen our
faith to believe that
there are
mysteries beyond our knowing.
Strengthen
us to trust ourselves as we trust in you.
Empower us to
change and transform with love.
Grant to us everlasting joy so we can be glad and rejoice in Jesus’
salvation in all times and in all places! Make our life reveal the presence of
God and so we may for the rest of our life proclaim - Christ is risen and He is
risen indeed. Alleluia!
With a grateful and hopeful heart we pray,
amen.
# posted by Kowloon Union Church : Sunday, April 01, 2018
