Called by Name

Mary Magdalene, the Apostles to the Apostles, shows us the truth:
God finds us even when we are sad, grieving, confused, angry, and lost.
And that is very good news!

Acts 10:34-43

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 

Colossians 3:1-4

John 20:1-18

This sermon was preached on Easter morning at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles in Hoover, AL. You may watch a video of it here. (If you are wanting to laugh you may also check out my notes for the Children’s sermon version at the bottom of this post). 

Holy God, may my words be your words and when my words are not your words, may your people be wise enough to know the same. Amen.

Alright, friends, since it is Easter morning, a day when God pulled the ultimate practical joke on separation, death, and even us humans, I think we should begin with a few jokes.

First:

What is faster than Peter on Easter morning?
Well according to today’s Gospel writer, John, the beloved disciple, himself… and according to everyone, Mary Magdalene. She was faster than both of them.

Second:

How do dinosaurs celebrate Easter? 

They don’t. They’re eggs-tinct.

And one more, not Easter themed, but still religious:

What do you call a monk on an airplane?
An Air Friar.

Now those are some pretty silly jokes. But Easter is actually the perfect day for a little laughter, because Easter is the day when God surprises everybody.

On Good Friday, it looked like the cruel and powerful people had won… like sadness had won… like pain had won… like death had won.

But then on Easter morning, God said, “Not so fast.” That is what happened in the Gospel story, I just read a minute ago.

Very early in the morning, while it is still dark, Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb where Jesus had been laid. She loves Jesus. She wants to be near him. She is sad. She is grieving. And when she gets there, she sees that the stone has been rolled away.

Now when Mary sees that, she does not say, “Hooray! Resurrection!” Nope. She thinks something has gone wrong. So she runs. She runs to find Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. And then they start running too.

And this is one of the funniest little parts of the whole Bible, I told as a joke about it a moment ago. It’s funny because John makes sure to tell us that the other beloved disciple got there first.

It is like John is saying, “Yes, yes, this is the greatest story ever told... but also, just so everyone knows, I beat Peter in a footrace.” I love that.

Because it reminds us that the people in the Bible were real people. Holy people, yes. Faithful people, yes. But also human people. A little competitive. A little funny. Just like us.

So they run to the tomb. One gets there first. Peter goes inside. The other disciple sees and begins to believe. But here is the important part: they still do not fully understand.

And that matters, because sometimes we get it and sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we understand what God is doing. Sometimes we don’t. Sometimes life makes sense. Sometimes it really does not. But in those confusing moments, we are in good company because Mary does not get it at first either.

After Peter and the other disciple leave, Mary stays behind. She stays in the garden. She stays near the tomb. She stays with her sadness. She is crying. She is confused. She is having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

Have you ever had one of those? Maybe you dropped your ice cream on the ground. Maybe your best friend told you they were not your best friend anymore. Maybe the shoe store did not have the shoes in your size. Maybe you got homework on a Friday. Maybe your team didn’t win the big game. Maybe you lost someone you love very much. Mary is in one of those moments.

She is crying, and then she turns around and sees Jesus standing there, but she does not know it is Jesus. She thinks he is the gardener. And friends, that is another funny moment. She is wrong. But she is also a little bit right. 

Because in a way, Jesus is the gardener. He is the Good Gardener of our souls. He is the one who brings life out of dead places. He is the one who plants hope where there was only sadness. He is the one who helps love grow again.

But Mary still does not know it is him. And then Jesus says just one word. He says, “Mary.” Her name. And suddenly she knows. It is Jesus. The risen Christ. Alive.

And I think that is one of the most beautiful parts of the whole Easter story: Jesus meets Mary not when she is cheerful, not when she has it all figured out, not when she is at her best, but when she is crying. When she is confused. When she is hurting. When she feels lost.

That is when Jesus comes to her. And that is good news for us too. Because God meets us not only when we are happy. Not only when we understand everything. Not only when we are doing our best. God is with us then, yes. 

But God is also with us when we are sad. When we are grieving. When we are confused. When we are having a no good, very bad day.

Sometimes, in those moments, what we need most is to slow down and listen. Not just with our ears. But with what the Church calls the ears of our heart. That means the quiet place inside us where we feel things, where we notice love, where we learn what is bearing good fruit and what is not, where we can hear God speaking most clearly.

Mary stayed still long enough to hear Jesus call her name. And here is the really amazing thing: Mary is the first one to meet the risen Jesus. Mary is the first one sent to tell the others. She is the apostle to the apostles. We are here today, in part, because of her witness.

Because she stayed. Because she listened. Because she heard her name.

And her story teaches us something beautiful: Even when everything seems to be going as badly as it possibly could... God is still with us. Even when we are sad. Even when we are scared. Even when we are confused. Even when we do not understand.

God is with us, sweetly, lovingly, calling each of us by name. And that is Easter. Jesus is alive. Love is stronger than death. And the risen Christ still calls his people by name.

And for that, thanks be to God. Amen.

Children's Sermon Notes:

Easter is God’s ultimate prank on evil, sin, death, and even human beings. So, JOKES

What is faster than Peter on Easter morning?
Well according to today’s Gospel writer, John, the beloved disciple, himself… and according to everyone, Mary Magdalene. She was faster than both of them.

How do dinosaurs celebrate Easter? 

They don’t. They’re eggs-tinct.

Not Easter themed, but still religious: What do you call a monk on an airplane?
An Air Friar.

Pretty silly, right? But Easter is the perfect day for laughter, b/c Easter = when God surprises everybody. On GF it 👀 like cruel and powerful people had won… like sadness had won… pain… death

This morning, God: “Not so fast.” We heard it in the Gospel for today.

Very early, still dark Mary M. ➡️ 🪦 where ✝️ had been laid. She ❤️ Jesus. She wants to be near him. She’s sad… grieving. Upon arriving she 👀 🥌 🧻 away

When Mary 👀 that, she 🚫🗣️, “Hooray! Resurrection!” 👎 She thinks something has gone wrong. So 🏃🏽‍♀️… to find Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. 🏃🏻🏃🏻 too

And this is one of the funniest little parts of the whole Bible, I told a joke about it a moment ago. It’s hilarious to me b/c John makes sure to tell us he’s #1. John: “Yes, yes, this is the greatest story ever told... but also, just so everyone knows, I beat Peter in a footrace.” I love that.

B/C it reminds us that the people in the Bible were real people. Holy people, ✅. Faithful people,  ✅. But also human people. ~ competitive. ~ funny. Just like us.

So they 🏃 to the tomb. 1 gets there first. Peter goes inside. The other disciple 👀 and begins to believe. But here is the important part: they still do not fully understand.

And that matters, b/c sometimes we get it and sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we understand what God is doing. Sometimes we 🚫. Sometimes life makes sense. Sometimes it really 🚫. But in those confusing moments, we are in good company because Mary 🚫 get it at first either.

After Peter and the other disciple leave, Mary stays…in the garden…near the tomb…with her 😔. She is 😭. She is 🤔. She is having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

Have you ever had one of those? Maybe… dropped your ice cream on the ground. Bff told you they were not their BFF anymore. Shoe store… homework on a Friday…team didn’t win the big game. Maybe you lost someone you love very much. Mary is in one of those moments.

With tears in her eyes she turns around and sees Jesus standing there, but she doesn’t know it is Jesus. She thinks he's the gardener…another funny moment. Wrong/right

B/c Jesus = gardener = Good Gardener of our souls = 1 who brings life out of dead places = 1 who plants hope where there was only sadness = 1 helps love grow again.

Mary still confused. And then Jesus 1 word…“Mary.” Her name. And suddenly she knows. It is Jesus. The risen Christ. Alive.

1/most beautiful parts of the whole Easter story: Jesus meets Mary not when she is cheerful…it all figured out…she is at her best, but when she is 😭, 🤔, 🤕, & lost.

That is when Jesus comes to her. & good news for us 2. B/C God meets us 🚫 only when we’re 😄…we understand everything…we are doing our best. God is with us then, yes. 

But God is also with us when we are sad, grieving, confused, or having a no good, very bad day.

Sometimes, in those moments, what we need most is to slow down and 👂. Not just with our ears. But also ⛪️ calls the 👂 of our ♥️. That means the quiet place inside us where we feel things, where we notice love, where we learn what is bearing good fruit and what is not, where we can hear God speaking most clearly to us.

Mary stayed still long enough to hear Jesus call her name. And here is the really amazing thing: Mary is the 1st to meet the risen Jesus… 1st -> the others… apostle to the apostles. We’re here in part b/c of her witness. B/C she stayed, listened, and heard her name.

And her story teaches us something beautiful: Even when everything seems to be going as badly as it possibly could...God is still with us—Even when we’re sad, scared, confused, don’t understand.

God is with us, sweetly, lovingly, calling each of us by name. And that is Easter. Jesus is alive. Love is stronger than death. And the risen Christ still calls his people by name. And for that, thanks be to God. Amen.

Good News? Yes, Good News!

"The Beheading of St John the Baptist" by Caravaggio

During Holy Week we hear the Passion of Our Lord. We read an account on Palm Sunday and hear the Gospel writer John describe Jesus’ suffering on Good Friday. During those moments the Church mercifully leaves out what comes before and after the Gospel lesson. Today though, we did not have that luxury.

After hearing this brutal story of a corrupt, powerful, and witless figure I said, “The Gospel of the Lord.” And, you all responded—perhaps sheepishly—“Praise to you, Lord Christ.” How are we to offer our praise after hearing this? What about this is Gospel—meaning good news? Can we even describe this as positive? Is there any good news in this passage at all? Maybe. But, first we must hear the bad news. 

This bit of Mark’s Gospel account opens so strangely. King Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, a man who reported directly to the emperor, was worried. Herod’s anxiety arose because he began to hear of Jesus of Nazareth. This upstart rabbi reminded him of someone else—John the Baptizer. And, Herod had just beheaded John. But, this is where the story gets even stranger, for the next portion is a flashback. This recollection depicts how Herod’s family used his power against him to murder John the Baptizer. This is bad news indeed.

Now even though Herod answered directly to the emperor, most historians depict him as blundering and weak. A colleague described him as a “murderous, lecherous, gluttonous, incestuous enemy of God.” That about covers it. But, this long flashback sequence still deserves a little more scrutiny.

At the beginning of this remembrance the Baptizer had spoken an unwanted truth to the king. John said one is not to take his brother’s wife. Leviticus outlined this mandate for good communal living. Now, this ought not be confused with caring for a brother’s widow. No, what Herod did was steal his brother Philip’s wife. So, John the Baptist told Herod and Herodias that God did not approve.

Herod though made a weak compromise with Herodias. Herodias wanted John the Baptist killed. Herod, although he was perplexed by John, enjoyed hearing him speak. So, Herod decided to keep John alive, just under lock and key. But, then came Herod’s birthday party.

Mark tells us that an opportunity arose when Herod threw a birthday party for himself and invited a bunch of his powerful friends. The word opportunity stands out here for two reasons. First, opportunity means “happy day.” Herodias saw the day when she could get rid of John as a joyful occasion. Gross! Second, opportunity is the same word used later in Mark’s Gospel account when Judas betrayed Jesus turning him over to his death. And, this brings us to a larger parallel. This story of John’s betrayal and death at the hands of the systems of power prefigures Jesus’ own betrayal and death. It is sounding more and more like bad news, right? Back to today’s story and the opportunity.

Herodias in a ghastly move of desperation sent her daughter into the birthday party to please Herod and his guests. Herod was this young girl’s step-father and uncle making the entire encounter disturbing enough. However, the foolish king quickly gave the girl a chance to make this party even more sadistic. For Herod promised the younger Herodias she could have whatever she wanted, up to half of the kingdom. In the middle of this disgusting birthday party, mother and daughter Herodias had the king right where they wanted him.

This mother-daughter combination pounced on the opportunity, as they asked for John the Baptist’s head. The girl added the gory detail of “on a platter” to her request. Then, the deed was carried out by a hapless soldier. When the man of the guard returned with John’s head on a salver he did not take it to the powerless king, but straight to the girl who promptly and proudly displayed it to her mother. This cannot be good news, right?

This story has to fall under the category of bad news. Jesus is nowhere to be found. The terrible triumvirate of Herod, Herodias, and Herodias never reappear in Mark’s story. And, perhaps most horrifically this flashback to John’s death truly foreshadows what Jesus will face on Good Friday.

So, why are we forced to face Jesus’ death, our Faith’s darkest day, here in the middle of the summer? Why are we thrust into the despair of Holy Week during this long season after Pentecost? Why must we endure this bad news? Where is the Good News?

Everything in Mark’s story of Jesus Christ is connected. Right before this nightmarish flashback the twelve disciples were sent out to do the work of curing the sick and preaching repentance—and they did it well. Right after this story Jesus took the disciples away to rest, but ended up feeding the five thousand. This gross story we heard today then points simultaneously in multiple directions.

First, the power of Jesus’ name was spreading. As Jesus sent out his disciples there were consequences. The power of his name had not only reached those people who yearned for God’s Kingdom to come, but also to those who were threatened by this Good News. We are to share in Jesus’ Good News—that God’s Kingdom has come to all—even with those in power.

Second, when the disciples brought healing and word of God’s Kingdom coming to the towns where they visited, they were welcomed with hospitality—at least for a time. This was not the case with John. For the Baptizer also shared the Truth of God, but he was killed for it. Those in power could not handle what John had to say. We can—when we speak truth to power like John—undergo resistance, persecution, and even harm. God still calls us to preach this Good News even if it gets us into trouble.

Third, most of this ghastly flashback story took place at an exclusive banquet for the elite. As we look forward to the next week’s Gospel lesson we see another gathering—Jesus’ feeding of the Five Thousand. This dinner was a counter-banquet to the murderous, lecherous, gluttonous, and incestuous birthday bash for Herod. All were invited to take part in Jesus’ mass, outdoor, pop-up party.

In these three directions we experience our own opportunities, our own happy days in which God transforms even this gruesome story into something which builds up God’s reign of love on earth. God switches what we are sure is bad into what God knows is good. But, God yearns for us to be a part of this.

We are called to be like the disciples. Friends, we must share the good news of God’s love taking it out into the world with our words, our actions, and our behavior. For this world needs Christ’s message of healing and hope and love. And quite often it will be like the disciples in last week’s Gospel story. We will be met with peace and smiles and hospitality. Sometimes though it will be different.

We are called to share God’s Truth like John the Baptist too. God desires for us to share Good News, and not just with those whom we know will like it. There are countless examples of Christians like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Edith Stein, Óscar Romero, Jonathan Daniels, and Martin Luther King Jr. who in their day spoke truth to power, even though it led them to death. They were not people unlike us, they were folk just like you and me. They and John help us to know that we cannot sit on God’s truth—why would we keep Good News all to ourselves? We must share it—even if it gets us into trouble, good trouble!

And, we are called to make our gatherings ones that look like the feeding of the five thousand, not like Herod’s birthday party. God showed us through Christ Jesus that all are welcome to feed at God’s Table—and yes, that would even include elitists from Herod’s gathering. As we look toward a fuller return to church life this fall—how will we invite everyone to be part of God’s banquet where all are welcome?

Make Jesus’ Good News known in all the world. Share God’s Truth with all, especially those in power who may be threatened by it. Invite everyone to God’s Table where all feast together. Amen.