April 6, 2007
Grace Church
Rev. Robert E. Hensley

Alleluia!  Christ is Risen!  The Lord is Risen Indeed!  Alleluia!

Let us pray.

I believe that behind the mist the sun waits.

I believe that beyond the dark night it is raining stars.

I believe that this lost ship will reach port.

I will not be robbed of hope, it shall not be broken…

My voice is filled to overflowing with the desire to sing, the desire to sing.

I believe in reason, and not in the force of arms;

I believe that peace will be sown throughout the earth.

I believe in our nobility, created in the image of God, and with free will reaching for the skies.

I will not be robbed of hope, it shall not be broken, it shall not be broken.  Amen.  (From Chile)

“On this most holy night, in which our Lord Jesus passed over from death to life, the Church invites her members dispersed throughout the world, to gather in vigil and prayer.  For this is the Passover of the Lord, in which, by hearing his Word and celebrating his Sacraments, we share in his victory over death.”

      With these words we begin the most ancient and holy documented celebration of the church.  This is the Passover of the Lord. 

      Just as the Exodus was and is one of the defining moments in the lives of our Jewish ancestors, the celebration of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ is the most fundamental event of the Christian community.  The events of Holy Week and Easter are closely intertwined with the stories of the Passover and Exodus as we have heard in our scripture readings for tonight.

      Within the Jewish tradition, on the first night of Passover, the custom is for the youngest child in a Jewish household to ask four questions of the head of the family, all revolving around the central theme, “Why is this night different from any other night?”  This is also the most significant question that a visitor might ask of us:  Why is this night so different from any other night?

      The question is answered in the Exsultet, that ancient hymn of praise that was sung earlier. 

• This night is different because this is the night, when [God] brought our ancestors, the children of Israel, out of their bondage in Egypt, and led them through the Red Sea on dry land;

• This night is different because this is the night when all who believe in Christ are delivered from the gloom of sin, and are restored to grace and holiness of life;
• This night is different because this is the night, when Christ broke the bonds of death and hell and rose victorious from the grave.

      This night is different, because through Christ’s triumphant resurrection “…wickedness is put to flight and sin is washed away.  Innocence is restored to the fallen, joy is given to those who mourn.  Pride and hatred are cast out, leaving in their place peace and concord.  This night is blessed, because through this night, earth and heaven are joined and humanity is reconciled to God.”

      Think of the power of these statements.  This night restores innocence to the fallen.  But how can this be?  In today’s world, as we face the real possibility of terrorist attacks and question our involvement in Iraq and other troubled places around the world, how can any of us ever hope to claim a feeling of innocence again?  Even our children are not allowed their innocence for long anymore.  Lead in their drinking water, violence in their schools.  Yet on this incredible night, every one of us is assured that our innocence can be restored!

      This night brings joy to those who mourn.  Who among us has not been mourning on some level?  Some of us are angry and many of us mourn for those who have been taken from us this past year; we mourn those we love but can see no longer; we mourn lost opportunities, we mourn sins that may be weighing us down.  But tonight this liturgy informs us that no matter what grief we bring with us, we are to leave it buried in the birth waters of the font; this liturgy informs us that joy is ours for the taking because of the incredible uniqueness of this singularly awesome night. 

          We are told that this night has the power to cast out pride, hatred and prejudices, and establish in their place a new life of peace and concord.  Yes thank you, God!   Pride and hatred have done more than enough damage in our lives, our relationships and our world.  We don’t need them anymore.  Tonight we are invited to surrender them, to let go of them, to give them up and put the peace of God in their place!

      And on this night, more so than any other night of the year, on this night heaven and earth are joined and we are reconciled to God.  That is what God gives freely to all of us in equal measure tonight.  Unabashed, unqualified, unsolicited forgiveness.  While we are still bound to earth, the gates are flung wide open, the bonds of sin and death are shattered and we are invited to become citizens of heaven.  No matter if we have wandered away or how far we have gone, God invites us to come home tonight, no questions asked, to come home, to come home here, to come home now!  The Church Universal and Triumphant proclaims that Christ is risen!  And along with Christ, every last one of us is raised and delivered from the darkness and gloom of sin and restored to grace and holiness of life.

      Each and every one of us here, within the light of this Paschal Candle shares in it.  We share in the promises made to the children of Israel and to the entire world through the Prophets.  We share in the promises made to the disciples and to all who listened to Jesus as he walked this earth.  We share in it for the Word spoken to us is made true and real by that to which we bear witness this night...the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior. 

      Even more than this, it is made true by the testimony or our hearts...this very night...hearts that have been touched and inundated and made new by the love of the Holy Spirit through the waters of our common baptism.

      As the New Light of this Paschal Candle burns for these next 50 days to remind us that Christ, the light of the world, is truly raised...I invite all of you here to hold the vision of this new light in your heart.  Take it with you when you leave tonight.  Take it with you to your homes and shine it on those you love.  Even more than that, I challenge you to shine it on those you might not love so much.  Most important of and most difficult of all, Christ asks that you shine it on those that might not love you.  Let us pray with united hearts and voices that it will shine continually to drive away all of our fears and darkness. 

      May Christ, the Morning Star that knows no setting, find that light ever burning.  He who gives his light to all creation, and who lives and reigns, now and forever.  Amen. 

      Christ is Risen!  Hallelujah!