Sermon John 20:1-18

While most of the other disciples were hiding in their homes, Mary Magdalene had chosen to go to the tomb. To go to the place where they had placed Jesus cold dead body just a few days before. She had gone there to weep for him.

She came there early that Sunday morning, while it was still dark. What had drawn her there so early. Did she think it would be safer if she came early? Was it because she wanted some time alone to be where they had put his body? What ever her reason was, she was shocked to find the rock covering the tomb, where the had put Jesus corpse, rolled away.

So this would be no simple grieving, because the body was gone ... but some thing strange happens when she inspects the tomb a second time ... John says that she encounters two angels ... its not your normal angelical visitation ... no bright lights or white clothes ... Why is it that Mary does not immediately recognize them as angels? ... perhaps it is because they ask what seems like a stupid question ... "Woman, why are you weeping." "Why are you weeping!? That seems like an odd thing to ask someone weeping at a grave side ... but not on this day ... since Jesus asks her the same question ... "... why are you weeping. Whom is it you are looking for?"

And Jesus knows who she is looking for, she is looking for her Lord ... she is looking for Jesus ... the one who claimed her as a disciple and shared wisdom and community with her ... and that is who it is who appears to her ... Jesus ... the risen Christ ... but she does not yet know it ... she thinks he is the gardener ... at least until he speaks her name ... "Mary!" Once she hears her Lord speak her name she knows it is Jesus ... it is her Rabbouni ... her "Teacher".

Jesus calls her by name ... and that is important ... the text even adds an explanation mark "MARY!" ... this is no aloof greeting ... this is reunion ... the reunion of reunions ... into her black and white world of grief, the colour has returned ... Jesus is alive ...

And not only is he alive ... Jesus says Mary's name ... and that is important ... and in using her name he claims her as one of his own ... did you notice that it is Jesus who finds Mary ... Mary is looking for Jesus, but in the darkness or the fog of grief, she thinks he is the gardener ... it is Jesus who has come to her ... and in naming her she is found ...

Imagine her seeing Jesus again amid the early morning sunlight ... her weeping turns to joy, and her grief into Good News .. warmth rises in her once cold heart ... Jesus who had died, is now risen ... and her joy she embraces him ...

It must have been the biggest death grip bear hug embrace of all time ... just look at Jesus response ... don't hold onto me ... because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers [and sisters] and say to them, "I am ascending to the Father and your Father, to my God and your God." He tells her that this is no normal reunion ... joyful as the reunion is ... things will never be the same ... something wonderful has happened and she must share it ...

She must share how she has been named by the risen Christ, and heard the Good News ... but what is the Good News? Did you hear it? ... it was not just that Jesus is risen ... but also that God is OUR God ... that the reunion is not just with Jesus but with God ... Jesus says that he is going to his Father and your Father to his God and your God ...

Mary has been given another name ... beloved of God ... child of God ... this is no reunion just between two friends ... this is a cosmic reunion between God and humanity ... a cosmic friendship ... and more than friendship, it is about family ... for God names us not only as friends, but as beloved children ... that is the Good News ... through Jesus Christ, we become children of God ...

And it is something that must be shared ... did your hear Jesus tell Mary not to hold onto him ... he must be shared ... like all Good News it must be shared ... the Good News of Jesus is not something that we hold onto, or that we keep within a the bounds of a book or the walls of a church ... it is something that must be shared with others who are looking for him.

And so Mary is faithful, she goes and shares the Good News with the others ... she says, "I have seen the Lord." And she tells them what Jesus had said to her ... and after hearing the Good News we find that Jesus appears to the other disciples ... and so they knew what she knew ...

And like Mary, the first disciple in the Gospel of John who proclaims the rising of Christ, we too are called to share in this holy mission. This ministry of sharing. That is part of what we do as a baptized people. We proclaim God's reunion with humanity through baptism ... through baptism we become disciples who are part of the body of Christ, and we learn and grow together to know God more fully. As this small community ... we share together the friendship we have found in Christ. We share our joys and sorrows together ... and we try to love each other as Christ first loved us ... and as a community of disciples we are called to share the presence of Christ with others ... to let others know that Christ in indeed with us ... he is risen ... and he is present ... we need only look and Jesus will find us ... and when he does, he will call us by name ... and then we will know that he has claimed us as his own and welcomed us into his holy kingdom ... AMEN

Sermon John 20:1-18
by James Love