mamabishop: Easter Sunday 2023

The Collect

O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The First Lesson Jeremiah 31:1-6

At that time, says the LORD, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. Thus says the LORD: The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall take your tambourines and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy the fruit. For there shall be a day when sentinels will call in the hill country of Ephraim: “Come, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.”

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

1 Give thanks to the LORD

, for he is good; *

his mercy endures for ever.

2 Let Israel now proclaim, *

"His mercy endures for ever."

14 The LORD is my strength

and my song, *

and he has become my salvation.

15 There is a sound

of exultation and victory *

in the tents of the righteous:

16 "The right hand of the

LORD has triumphed! *

the right hand of the LORD

is exalted! the right hand

of the LORD has triumphed!"

17 I shall not die, but live, *

and declare the works

of the LORD.

18 The LORD has

punished me sorely, *

but he did not

hand me over to death.

19 Open for me the

gates of righteousness; *

I will enter them; I will offer

thanks to the LORD.

20 "This is the gate of the LORD; *

he who is righteous may enter."

21 I will give thanks to you,

for you answered me *

and have become my salvation.

22 The same stone

which the builders rejected *

has become the chief cornerstone.

23 This is the LORD's doing, *

and it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 On this day the LORD has acted; *

we will rejoice and be glad in it.

The Epistle Colossians 3:1-4

If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

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.

The women who went out to the tomb, early in the morning, hoping that they could talk the guards into rolling the stone away, so they could anoint the body of their dear friend. The disciples didn't go out and we do not know why/ Maybe they feared for their lives/ Maybe the thought they would be arrested immediately. Maybe they were so traumatized and sorrowful that they could not even draw near to the tomb. Whatever the reason, Mary Magdelene, a woman despised, and the other women, were the first to see the risen Christ. And on this Easter Day, may we remember that it those considered outsiders. the despised and rejected, who will see the risen Jesus. May we all rejoice today and carry the Good news to sorrowful and traumatized disciples.

An Easter Litany

Wondrous Creator, God of love

you brought life back to your child

you turned horrible death into new life

and changed hearts broken to hearts rejoicing.