Sermon: 4th April '21

Easter Sunday: The Heavy Stone and the Open Tomb

Gospel Reading: Mark 16: 1-8

The stone had been rolled away, and the stone was very big and heavy.

Dear Community of Christians,

This was the unexpected experience of a very small group of women, early on Easter morning. Without understanding, they looked into the empty grave. The experience deeply shocked them and was completely incomprehensible.

Isn’t it very similar today? Do we really know what Easter means, with all its consequences for our daily life?

Through the open souls of these women, it was possible that for them to hear the message of the angel. They heard that the one they loved, the one they deeply revered had risen. They still couldn’t fully believe and understand it.

Today the Christian world celebrates Easter, as a day free from work, hopefully with sunny weather, and in nature with Easter egg hunts.  But if the Easter mystery doesn’t live in the human soul, man could neither develop free powers of love, nor feel compassion, nor find the will to further develop our humanity. Without the overcoming of death by the human God, mankind would be without a human future. Despite the failing of our understanding and our endless doubts,  He is truly risen.

It is a reality that the stone of 2000 years ago lies heavy today as hard immovable materialism on the souls of the people. Who will move it away? Is there any readiness at all, any will in the souls of men, to free themselves from this heavy, materialistic stone that lies on the feelings and thinking?

We don't really know!

​The only thing we can know is our own willingness, our open hearts to seek the Risen Lord and receive resurrection power through Him, as responsibility, as courage and as the security of His presence.

Re. Ute Koenig