Reflections...

Meditations, Reflections, Bible Studies, and Sermons from Kowloon Union Church  
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



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