Pastoral Letter 59

Dear Members of St. Andrew’s Uniting Church, Friends and Adherents,

Grace and peace to you all.

On this glorious Easter morning, as we come to celebrate the glorious resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and share His table with Holy Communion, which symbolises His commitment and dedication to be a living sacrifice for all, we are reminded that there is hope beyond this life.

Easter also reminds, that there is hope for us to conquer death and with resurrection, be strengthened and assured that we are not alone in this world. And regardless of what happens around us, we are called to be His witnesses in this world. As the members of His body, it is expected from us to dedicate, if not all we have, but at least to put a part of us to follow and obey Him all the way.

Without this great Sunday, there is no meaning for us to live in this world as His children.

If you are not able to come in person for our Easter worship, please join us following the Order of Service that you have received, light a candle, have a small roll of bread, a small cup of wine/juice and pray with us for better days to come.

Be well and pray for others.

Krikor

MESSAGE

Alleluia! Christ is Alive!

John 20:1-18

As humans, we are always anxious to hear good news, with so much going around in our beautiful, but abused world. We all long for good things to happen to us, our families, our dear ones and friends. We make wishes at the start of a New Year for good things to happen; no medical issues, no disappointments, no more sad days, no more wars, no more pandemics. But we always receive bad news, even though we have so many blessings, for which we have to be thankful and grateful to God, our provider.

Usually, the news we hear is bad news. If we read the newspapers or listen to the radio or TV, they report to us bad news. News about abuse, burglary, drugs, wars, the list goes on. Also, we hear about the political issues, debates, scandals, corruption, etc.

But as we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ we come upon some Good News. Finally! Good News. That’s what the word Gospel means: Good News. The Bible is full of Good News. And ‘Good News’ lifts us up, transforms our life, and makes life worth living.

The apostles and the women were eyewitness reporters to the greatest news in the history of the universe.

In the book of Acts 10:39-43, we read about Peter as an eyewitness, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all. Peter writes: “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen…He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives the forgiveness of sins through his name.”

And the following 44^th verse informs us that while Peter was giving this eyewitness update, “the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.”

Peter shared the news in Acts…but Peter wasn’t the first one on the scene nor was Peter the first one to share the Good News of Christ’s Resurrection.

As we see in our Gospel reading for this morning from John—it was Mary Magdalene who went to Jesus’ tomb early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark and was an eyewitness to the fact that the stone had been removed from the entrance.

She was the first eyewitness to the Resurrected Christ and the first person; Jesus chose to appear to. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, King of kings, the Lord of lords, I believe He deliberately chose to reveal Himself first to a woman.

Everything that Jesus Christ did is considered to be radical move. This is a good example.

Mary Magdalene was a colourful person. We don’t know much about her. Some believe that she was the woman caught in adultery in John Chapter 8 or the woman whom the people were about to stone until Jesus stepped in and said: “If anyone of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

We are not sure about all that. But we do know that Mary had been a troubled person, but she was transformed. She was a marginalised person and probably a discriminated human being.

We read in our passage that Mary was crying outside the tomb on that first Easter morning and Jesus came to her.

“Woman,” He said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

And of course, she was looking for the body of Jesus, which she thought someone had taken away.

Then Jesus said to her: “Mary.”

And at that moment Mary turned to Jesus and cried out: “Rabboni”, “My Lord”.

After this occurred, “Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news,” she went to the disciples with the greatest news anyone could ever share or hear “I have seen the Lord!”

Sometimes we have trouble seeing the Good News and seeing the Lord, with all that is happening in this world around us. Our Lord tries to communicate with us in many ways and still we do not recognise His voice. He speaks to us through His powerful Word, through people and through the things that happen to us. Even He calls us by name. In this case He said: “Mary” and that was enough to open the eyes of grieving Mary.

His appearance was the visual proof of His resurrection and the reason to be Good News.

Mary and the disciples shared the Good News about the Resurrected Lord with the rest of the world.

What can we do, as a church today, to be reporters of the Good News as well?

How can we “get the word out” and be one of Christ’s active churches?

What can we do to “get the word out” seeking people who are marginalised, poor, sick, outcast, those who doubt and those who are hurting?

There is too much bad news in this world and people need Good News. The church stands to give that Good News. We should extend a helping hand to the needy and to those who are in pain.

Sometimes just a phone call, a few comforting words or a visit can help to bring hope into one’s life.

The world, the people around us need to hear about the Good News. We should do our best to give that Good News. If we do that, we will play our part in the process as the children of God who represent Him in the world. We can make a difference, even though if it is one life that we touch and talk about our Lord and Saviour and the promise of salvation through Him.

Mary, Peter and many others did their part. They were not perfect; they had their weaknesses, but they did their part. Now it is time for the church to do its part.

Let’s be one of those who deliver this Good News.

Let’s be one of the Good News Churches!

Let’s live into what it means to be people of the Resurrection doing the work of the Kingdom of God on earth as it is done in heaven!

Let’s spread the news that Christ is Well and Alive, and that the Easter is true.

Let’s raise our voices and shout, proclaiming the Good News of His resurrection.

Let’s inform people that Jesus Christ is Lord and though He died on the cross, He is risen, and He lives for ever and gives us the real hope that we will also live forever with him.

What more Good News we expect to hear, than the one we proclaim today, here in Longueville at St. Andrew’s, as well as in every church, starting from Australia and New Zealand, Far East, Middle East, Europe and up to the Americas.

No matter where we are, from where we come or where we live, the truth and the Good News is and should be the same, especially on this glorious Easter morning, as we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, confirming that He is not dead; but He is alive and still in action; if not on earth, but in heaven seated at the right hand of the Father as our advocate.

After the sad and gloomy Holy Week when we were reminded of the painful ordeal that Jesus went through, it is time for us to celebrate and praise God for raising His son from the dead, to give us hope and a new everlasting life.

That’s why it is essential for us to raise our voices and prayers, following the example of Mary, Peter and the remaining witnesses, to proclaim the Good News, that Jesus is and will remain Alive promising to give us eternal life. A life which will be full of blessings and spiritual satisfaction.

Let us join together and proudly proclaim saying: Alleluia! Christ is alive. He is well and acts on our behalf.

Amen!