In sure and certain hope...

 

'In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.'

Perhaps you know those words. They were introduced with the first Book of Common Prayer in 1549, and have been used in Church of England funerals ever since. 

  

For nearly 500 years they have echoed down the generations, proclaiming to every generation afresh in those most painful and difficult moments that there is a sure and certain hope, even as they stand over the graves of their grandparents, their parents, their partners, and eventually as they go down into the grave themselves.

When Archbishop Thomas Cranmer wrote those words he wanted to emphasise something. He could have simply written, 'in hope of the resurrection to eternal life'. 

But he didn't.

Instead he wrote 'In sure and certain hope'. 

How could he be so sure? Because the resurrection to eternal life isn't just based on wishful thinking, it isn't just based on a vague sense of "well I hope so".  

No.  

Cranmer knew that that hope was sure and certain because it was rooted in a person - 'through Jesus Christ our Lord.'

It is a personal hope. That is what we see so powerfully in our gospel reading for Easter Sunday, John 20. Mary Magdalene loved Jesus, she was devoted to him. His death has devastated her. When she sees him in the garden she initially thinks he's the gardener

(side note - from the early days of the church this has often been seen as an allusion to Jesus being the Second Adam, because Adam was the world's first gardener! - 1 Corinthians 15:22 "for as in Adam all die so in Christ all shall be made alive")

that is - until he says her name! 

It is in that moment, that personal moment, that her eyes are opened and her sorrow turns into joy. 

 In that moment she is transformed into 'the apostle to the apostles' - running back to tell the disciples what she has seen, filled with a sure and certain hope that Jesus has overcome death. 

Mary's hope in that moment is the same sure and certain hope that has sustained Christians not just for 500 years, but for 2000. It is our hope. 

And it is that same hope that makes me excited for St James. 

We are not dying, we are alive in Jesus Christ. 

It has been such a joy to see how God is at work in our church. In Jesus we are growing, growing in love for each other, growing in our love for God, and growing in numbers. 

So let's celebrate together this Easter. 

We have a resurrection hope. 

A saviour who loves us so much he has overcome death for us. 

And a God who has not given up on St James, but works among us even now.

Alleluia, Christ is risen.