Easter 2C’25
27 April 2025
Acts 5.27-32; Rev.1.4-8
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
North Little Rock, Arkansas
The Rev. Carey Stone <+>
‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. Amen. -Revelation 1.8 NRSV
Yesterday the world said goodbye to one of God’s most cherished contemporary servants of Christ, Pope Francis. He died on the Monday after Easter Day known as Easter Monday. This was most appropriate since it’s known as a traditional day of rest for clergy who have finished an intensive season of Lent and Holy Week.
From the ‘get go’ when he took office Francis declined many of the extravagant privileges that was afforded him as Pope. He walked in humility and his life served as a reminder that a servant of the King of kings in the Kingdom of God doesn’t live like the kings of the world. He stood up for the poor, the overlooked, and ignored. One of his many quotes that stands out:
“There is only one time, the only time that we are allowed to look down upon others, is when we are offering to help them get back up.”
He challenged the Church to stretch and to grow in acceptance of all of God’s children, and to reach out beyond its own walls. His following quote bears this out:
“Instead of being just a church that welcomes and receives by keeping the doors open, let us try also to be a church that finds new roads, that is able to step outside itself and go to those who do not attend Mass, to those who have quit or are indifferent.”
He befriended people from all walks of life and was particularly close to his nurse Massimiliano Strappetti. She assisted him right up to the end. Francis wanted to greet the people on Easter and he consulted with her asking “Do you think I can manage it?” Strappetti mapped out the route for him to make his final ride in the Popemobile – Francis wanted to serve and to bless just one more Easter.
Francis lived in the world of kingdoms but served in the Kingdom not of this world.
Jesus was the only King who could, can and still be called The Alpha and the Omega – the First and the Last.
Our readings today serve as a reminder that we too are called to serve in Christ’s kingdom. In the Acts of the Apostles, we find the followers of Jesus already in trouble with the religious and political leaders for spreading the Good News. St. Peter the first Bishop of Rome said in answer to the charges: “We must obey God rather than any human authority” (from Acts 5).
John in the Book of Revelation speaks of Christ’s dominion over all:
“Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth” (from Revelation 1).
He continues:
“To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen”
Each of us as followers of Christ have a vocation, a ministry, a place of service in Christ’s kingdom.
Jesus appears to all the apostles and shows them his nail scared hands, feet, and side – Christ is alive! He even made a special trip the second time for the benefit of doubting Thomas so that he too could be a part of bringing the good news of a kingdom not of this world.
I leave you today with the last words of the last Easter sermon preached by Pope Francis knowing that the church was deeply flawed but called none the less said:
Dear brothers and sisters,
In the Lord’s Paschal Mystery, death and life contended in a stupendous struggle, but the Lord now lives forever. He fills us with the certainty that we too are called to share in the life that knows no end, when the clash of arms and the rumble of death will be heard no more. Let us entrust ourselves to him, for he alone can make all things new (Revelation 21:5)!
Happy Easter to everyone!