This Program presented by....God

Tonight we have gone back through the scriptures to hear again the whole sweep of God's promises from the beginning of his creative activity that continues even to our lives.

We have heard how God has worked with us over the generations,

--how we have understood only fitfully,

--how we have in so many ways said no and turned away from the invitation,

--how he is patient and persistent, not desiring our ultimate separation from God, that is, death,

but the establishment of a lasting relationship with him that means life now and the fulfillment of life in time to come.

Hey, ho, computer generation, raised on the slick pitches of the advertizing gurus.

This God is the one who really can deliver what he promises.

In his good time, and in his chosen ways, he will accomplish all that is needed.

As the rain comes down and does its job, so shall God's Word.

It is not empty; it will accomplish all of God's purposes.

More than a century ago, there was an old-style gas well drilled on our home farm.

Unfortunately, it was a dud, and the well casing was abandoned.

As a kid it was fun to find the casing hidden in the brush that had grown up and to yell down the old casing: Hello,... hello it would answer back.

We could send any word we wanted down the casing, but that was all that was returned, an empty echo.

It accomplished nothing.

In contrast, These days there are the fancy new phones to which one commands “Answer!” and it does.

It accomplishes something, it opens a new future for the speaker.

It is that kind of contrast that the prophet knows.

God's Word is not an empty echo; it really does what it proposes.

“Let there be light;” and it was so.

“Let the waters return,” and Pharaoh's army was no more.

“Come to me, and I will give you rest,” and he gives the gift of peace such as the world cannot give.

“This is my body, given for you.,” and we are truly fed and strengthened.

The prophet Isaiah's trust in God is confirmed in the Gospel for this Easter festival.

It is not advertising gimmicks; it is the truth.

Jesus' promises are true ones, because they are spoken by one who has his every limiting condition behind him, including that last enemy of us all, death.

He has the right to speak, and he speaks the truth.

Hey, ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters.

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.

The Good News of Christmas is not undone by the sorrow of Good Friday; rather Good News is confirmed by the Resurrection.

The Lord is come near, his body is not only the resurrected one those first witnesses saw, but it is also the whole group called the church, and the Holy Communion in its fullest use.

All of them are the nearness of God, the Word accomplishing God's intentions.

So, now we can enter the feast without cost,

for the one who invites us has already paid our admission price.

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast.

He will destroy the covering that is cast over all the people.

He will swallow up death forever.

It will be said on this day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.

This is the Lord; we have waited for him.

Let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia. Amen.

Please note: The preceding sermon is provided as a resource for the thought, prayer, and meditation of the members and friends of St. Mark's. It is the residue of a verbal event, and thus it does not have academic footnotes and other details that would be expected in a written document. The writer gladly acknowledges the prior thought and work of many Christians before him.