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Sermon preachedat The Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphiaon
Easter Day, March 31st 2013by The Reverend Alan NealeHaving the
Last Word
Do you know someone who always has the last word? And at this
point close friends, partners,
colleagues will smile at each other, wink or squeeze a hand.
I have the experience of living at home with someone who often
has to have the last word oh, I
dont mean my wife Wendy. I mean my dog Harry the doorbell rings
and Harry barks long and
loudly. I vigorously tell him to stop silence and then an
audible growl stop silence
another growl and this continues until I tire and even then
almost inaudibly you hear, yet again,
the growl.
Yesterday I met with a couple for pre-marital conversation. I
asked them about their views on
this having the last word she said with a sweet smile, Oh I like
to have the last, the first
word and everything in between. A conversation ensued!
The last word is the most dangerous of infernal machines; and
husband and wife should no
more fight to get it than they should struggle for the
possession of a lighted bomb-shell.
But its never good to generalize. There are situations in which
I would much rather not have the
last word having explained my sickness, I look to my doctor for
her last word; describing what
seems scary and unsettling noises in my car, I look to the
mechanic to have the last word and,
definitely, when flying I do not want anyone but the pilot to
have the last word in fact, Im not
even sure I want a conversation.
On this glorious day, with resplendent floral praises and
stirring music we celebrate, we rejoice,
we are so grateful that God has the last word does pain, does
sorrowing, does crying does
death have the last word no, no, no and ALLELUIA NO. Alleluia
the Lord is risen, He is risen
indeed alleluia.
In Luke 24, todays Gospel reading, the women come to the tomb
they bring spices to anoint
the dead body. Now they knew a stone, a very heavy, stone had
been rolled into place. They
would surely be forgiven if they had stayed at home, if they
allowed that stone to have the last
word. But forward they move.
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7/28/2019 Sermon: Having the Last Word - Alan Neale
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As we grow in the love and experience of God we come to learn
that no serious challenge, no
disabling handicap need have the last word. Alleluia.
They come to the tomb and seeing the angelic figures they are
terrified, fearful, scared but they
did not let this fear immobilize nor deafen them. Terror does
not have the last word and forward
they move.
When our fears have the last word they do us damage the sick
person resists visiting a doctor
fearful of what he may learn; the guilty person justifies not
visiting a confessor, fearful he will be
ostracized and deserted.
Our bodies declare, sometimes piercingly in our ears, that we
inevitably endure weakness,
suffering, disability and finally decay. But this corporeal
declaration is not the last word the
tomb was empty, the body was gone and the Resurrected Jesus was
body enough to eat fish, be
touched, distribute food.
Sadly, if not shamefully, the Gospel continues and Luke tells us
that the apostles insisted on
having the last word. Though the women arrive glowing in faith
and confidence, exuberant with
their news Luke says (24:11) the apostles didnt believe a word
of it, thought they were
making it all up. How sad, defeatist, wretched are their last
words!
This is the question for today? What prompted them, what prompts
us, to need, to want, to have
to have the last word in face of this glorious news. Are we too
proud? Are we too cynical? Are we
too fearful?
The Resurrection is attested by prophecies centuries old; The
Resurrection is verified by the 180
degree change of scattered deserters into bold, eloquent and
disciples ready to die for their
Resurrected Lord; and the Resurrection is corroborated by the
personal testimony of millions
through the ages and in this place, this building today!
It was June 18, 1815 The Battle of Waterloo. The flashing light
from Winchester Cathedral sent
out the code that read June 18, 1815 was one of defeat. The
flashing light from Winchester
Cathedral sent out the code, "Wellington defeated" - then the
fog closed in and the message
light could no longer be seen. You know your history the actual
message was Wellington
defeated Napoleon.
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7/28/2019 Sermon: Having the Last Word - Alan Neale
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When we refuse to surrender to God and insist or need to have
the last word, it as if a fog clouds
the divine and tremendous message God defeated death.
As you and I reflect on our lives today, and maybe on our death;
as we reflect on the lives and
deaths of those we love let God have the last word. God defeats
death. Alleluia, the Lord is
Risen; He is Risen Indeed. Alleluia.
And if you must have the last word say, sing, shout AMEN, SO BE
IT.
