Sermon 2nd Sunday of Easter

The Only Thing to Do

 Matthew 28: 16-20

It’s the week after Easter

Jesus is risen, and the disciples are still in hiding

They are exhausted – and so is every minister across the land

From Palm Sunday to Easter there is a lot that goes on

Extra services, in church, for schools... sharing the events, leading the people through that week, when the world changed forever

And here we are at last – Easter is upon us. Yes, Easter is upon us- it’s far more than just one day – it is a season of 50 days, from Easter Sunday to Pentecost, a season for celebrating new life in Christ.

Today’s reading comes up every three years in the lectionary, and usually is given for Trinity – the week after Pentecost. I checked back – I have NEVER preached on this passage! Usually I focus on what we mean by God as Father, Son & Holy Spirit, and not at all on Jesus’ Great Commission:

“Go, make disciples, baptise in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and remember I am with you to the end of time.”

I find it hard to believe that in 15 years of preaching I’ve never preached on this, Jesus parting instruction to his disciples. The reading is in a different place in this new lectionary we are following... So here I go!

The first thing that strikes me in these final four verses of Matthew’s gospel is the phrase, “they worshipped him, but some doubted”. What a fabulous statement!!

SOME DOUBTED....

They were still able to worship

They were still included in the great commission

They were still invited in

Even with their doubts

Even with their hesitation and insecurities

Jesus still took them, chose them, led them, blessed them.

So even with our uncertainties

Our doubting

Our fragile will and tentative loyalty

Jesus chooses us

We do not have to be sure

We do not have to know all the answers

Jesus takes us as we are, where we are, who we are – Jesus doesn’t exclude those who are not perfect – he embraces them!

So, today, as we hear that charge we know that it doesn’t matter if  we feel less than able, less than ready – because God goes before us, caring, encouraging, leading ever forward – Jesus promised we’d never be alone, and the Spirit blesses our encounters and our journeying, whether we realise it or not.

What a perfect day then, to be welcoming a little one into God’s family

What a perfect day to encourage new parents with their own doubts and insecurities; with their own feelings of disbelief and uncertainty. It’s OK!

Jesus takes everyone

Those who know

And those who do not

Those who are sure and those who are not

Jesus enables amazing and wondrous things to happen

For Grace is ever present

We bring our children

We make promises we hope in, knowing as we do that we are frail and imperfect. That our determination will always be subject to challenge every step of the way.

Yet, even in this we have this reassurance

Jesus knows us, and blesses us anyway

So, as we remember our own baptismal vows today, as we have witnessed this family make their promises, we remember also, that we do not do it alone; we do not rely on our own strengths – we rely on God’s amazing and wondrous grace to lift us and guide us every day

Jesus called his disciples to go, share, and tell

Before they were able for it

While they still doubted

And we know they managed it

Because here we are

Hearing it

Sharing it

Telling it

Because really it is the only thing to do!

Amen