Easter Sunday with Baptism - April 20, 2025

Summary

Mother Suzanne's Easter sermon celebrates how Mary Magdalene, the first witness to Christ's resurrection, becomes the first apostle when Jesus calls her by name at the empty tomb. This resurrection power connects directly to the five candidates being baptized on Easter Sunday, who, like Mary, have heard Jesus call their names and are now charged with sharing the good news that Christ is risen.

The Gospel                                                                                                                                                             John 20:1-18    

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her. 

Artwork: From 12th-century St. Albans psalter: Mary Magdalen Announces the Resurrection to the Apostles

Transcript

Mother Suzanne:

We will rejoice and we will be glad in it. In the name of the Father, son and Holy Spirit, our Trium God. Amen. Please be seated. Good morning and please know you could have worshiped in any space that you have chosen to come to Grace. Our little parish on Lang Street in Alvin Texas know how grateful I am that you have chosen to worship here this morning. I am deeply humbled and forever grateful. Well, we have traveled this difficult road with Jesus this week. It has been heavy in my spirit. Just walking day after day suffering of Jesus is not easy to face. But my goodness, we have finally arrived to our blessed resurrection God, that Jesus is alive and our sorrow, our heaviness is no more death has been replaced with life and as resurrection people, those who believe out of death comes life. It's more than fitting on Easter, the day of resurrection, that the story is carried in all of scripture, Mary, she is the first to tell of the resurrection of Jesus. It is Mary Magdalene who is the one who pushes this story forward. And maybe that's why she's the one. She's the one who is led to the tomb at an hour in which it is still dark. Daylight has not even dawned, but she cannot wait one minute longer. She has to come

Mother Suzanne:

And she has. So she gets dressed

Mother Suzanne:

And she heads to the garden. The place where just a few days before Jesus has begged his father to remove the cup, but he knows it can't be removed. And so now we arrive at the place where his body has been laid. She gets there. There's a sense of urgency that has carried her there. And within a few minutes, Mary is at the garden and she carefully finds her way to the tomb. She guides herself back. Remember, it is still dark. So she puts her hands out in front so that she can feel her way. She knows that she is now in front of the tomb. She knows this is a place, but something is wrong. There used to be a large rock in front and it is no longer there. She knows this because she is now standing in the tomb in an instant. She realizes, oh my gosh, this stone has been rolled away. This is almost too much for her to take in. So as quickly as she can, she runs. She runs Simon Peter. Surely, surely the man loved by Jesus like no other will know what to do. So she says they've taken his body and I don't know where we can find him.

So with this news, Simon Peter and the other disciple that Jesus also loved, they ran to the tomb and they went in. There's enough light now. And they both can see that the tomb is empty except for a few swaddling bands of linen that have been left. So whether these disciples were so overcome with fear or grief or just simply they didn't know what to do, they decided to leave. They just left. They returned home. These disciples who have been with Jesus the whole time, they leave. But guess what? Mary is the one who stayed. She's the one who cannot leave. So she stands outside the tomb and she begins to weep. In fact, Mary is the only person at the empty tomb in all four gospel accounts. It is her time. She startled because she sees two angels sitting where Jesus's body has once been, and just as plain as day the Mary. Why are you crying? But without hesitating and a little bit confused, Mary says, they've taken away my Lord and I don't know where they have put him. And as soon as Mary utters these words, she turns around like she knows somebody is present there and she saw a man. Is this the gardener? She says It wasn't. Why are you weeping? Woman? Are you looking for the man asked In desperation, Mary plead, sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him and I will go and get him. And sensing her desperation, her fear, and her growing worry. Jesus speaks one word, Mary.  

Mary,  the grief that has been so heavy in her heart is suspended. She instinctively responds. Rob teach her. She now knows it's Jesus. We with certainty. She knows this voice. She has sat at his feet. She has listened to him teach. There is no doubt her master has called her by her name. Mary's heart cannot be contained. She has has to go and spread this wonderful news. And she will be the one to let everyone know that she has seen the Lord. The first in scripture. She's the one Mary Magdalene, which in all accounts y'all makes this woman, this woman who has been scorned for centuries. She is the first apostle because she was the first who was sent by the resurrected Jesus to tell others that he is alive.

Mary, there is power in resurrection. And on the day of our resurrection, we here get to witness the power of what resurrection does. We get to see holy baptism this morning. And for those who have studied those catechumens who have been studying for weeks, Grayson Miller, Gracie, Luke Jareth, Tom Jesus has called you also by name and you've responded by answering that call just like he said Mary's name. So our first up for baptism, Grayson, I just want to say Grayson has had a very big week. He was adopted by Bill and Paul on Wednesday, and today he is being baptized. Thanks be to God and many here in this room were online watching this court proceeding happen three and a half years, Paul and Bill have walked this road to adoption and the Grace Village showed up by watching and celebrating on Wednesday. Miller, can you raise your hand? Miller? Let everybody see.

Mother Suzanne:

Miller, I have

Mother Suzanne:

Looked you in the eye and I asked you, Miller, are you ready for baptism? And without hesitating your little head no. And you said, yes, mother, Suzanne, I'm ready. You're a big girl today. There was never even a little hesitation. Your eyes were always bright and full of longing. And as your priest, I know you are ready. Gracie, raise your hand. You have been a source of joy since coming to Grace. You have volunteered in the food pantry after school with Michael and Althea. You have consistently been a help. And I know that God keeps drawing you here this Wednesday at our last soup supper with a big smile on your face. This is what Gracie told me, mother Suzanne, is it Sunday? Yet I am ready to be baptized. Well, it is Sunday now, Gracie, it is your day of baptism. I know that you've been expectantly waiting for this day, for weeks. You've been studying and you've been preparing, and I am so proud of you.

Luke, raise your hand. Did you know your name means light? It does. And that is what you are. You've been a light of curiosity. You have had unquenchable desire to know about your faith and this beautiful church that you have said yes to in your mid twenties. You've circled back to faith and you have said yes to faith and yes to God. You have diligently committed to this process of preparation for baptism. And I want you to know I am so proud of you. Everything I've asked you to do, you have done so with grace and with fervent prayer and heart. Today is your baptism day and Jareth.

He's our lone choir member. God has been stirring in your heart and has filled you my brother with courage and strength. You two have diligently committed your ways and this time a preparation to understanding all along being bolstered by your grandparents and this community, the choir that has embraced you with love. Today is your baptism day, Jareth. And last but not least, Tom, you are the anchor of the group. Strong, quiet, and bolstered by the love of your wife Harriet, who has prayed. I'm going to give away a secret for years for this moment. I celebrate and am deeply humbled and moved how God has moved your heart quietly. And I have to believe Ms. Marian is rejoicing in heaven this day, the day of your holy baptism in an age where many have little interest in the things of God. Each of you all have consistently showed up for services at Grace, engaged in worship, courageously asked insightful questions that sometimes I don't have answers to, but you have asked them anyway. You have done the hard work and I have to believe that God is pleased. Each of you in

Mother Suzanne:

Your own way have done this beloved daughter

Mother Suzanne:

In whom I am well pleased. On the most glorious day of the year, you will be marked and sealed as Christ owned forever, and you will be charged with a task that was given to Mary to let others know that you have experienced the resurrected Lord, that you love God and you love his son Jesus, and that you will serve him your baptism. And this is my call to you all. Your baptism is your entryway into the kingdom of God. You'll have the rest of your life to testify and to tell the story of Jesus, our risen Lord. If that is not good news, I don't know what is. So let us all say Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Christ. The Lord is risen today. Amen.