The Rev. Zachary R. Thompson – Sermon for Easter Sunday: The Day of Resurrection

·11 min·1 clip

Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb while it's still dark, only to witness an earthquake and an angel rolling back the stone.

Rev. Zachary Thompson opens his Easter Sunday sermon by greeting the congregation and noting the packed church. He shares a personal anecdote about visiting the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia during his seminary studies at Emory University and Swanee. Thompson describes the monotonous rhythms of monastic life with early morning prayers, silent meals, and bonsai tree cultivation. He then transitions to reflecting on his 17 years of parish ministry, including profound experiences like accompanying people through illness and death. The sermon explores how time affects human relationships and enthusiasms, using the example of his children growing up and no longer needing to be read to. Thompson references T.S. Eliot's poetry about the fear that all time might be unredeemable. He then recounts the resurrection story from Matthew's Gospel, detailing how Mary Magdalene and another Mary came to the tomb while it was still dark. The narrative describes the earthquake, angel appearing like lightning, stone rolling back, and Jesus meeting the women with the word 'Rejoice.' Thompson connects this to Peter's speech in Acts about eating with Jesus after the resurrection. The sermon argues that Christ's resurrection provides a doorway into eternity where all losses are gathered and held. Thompson returns to his monastery experience, revealing that what he found there was not tedium but the presence of eternity within time. He concludes by referencing T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets and Julian of Norwich's phrase 'All shall be well,' asserting that because of the resurrection, nothing good will be lost.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from St. James‘ Church