Easter Sunday 2023 | Is Christianity a religion of exclusion?

THE LITURGY OF THE LIGHT Easter Readings: Gen 2: 4-9 [God creates Adam – in Jesus we are a new creation] Gen 3: 1-19 [Humanity sins against the Creator – redemption comes through a descendant of a woman] Gen 22: 1-3, 9-13, 15-18 Exodus 14: 15- 15: 1a {Escaping Exodus, God leads he people safely through the Red Sea – a foreshadow of deliverance in Baptism] Exodus 24: 3-8 [at Sinai God covenants with Israel – in the Lamb’s blood a new covenant is sealed] Ezekiel 36: 22-28 [God seeks to renew and purify the heart and spirit of the people to make them God’s own – so that the world may know God] GOSPEL according to Matthew 28: 1-10 1 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you." 8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." THE BLESSING Go now, glad and rejoicing, for this is the day that the Lord has made, and Christ is risen, that all may be made alive in him. Put your hope in the risen Christ, and testify that he is the one ordained by God to be Lord of all. In his name, preach peach, do good, and proclaim the forgiveness of sins without partiality.