Easter Sunday Homily
Homily – Easter Sunday 2025
It seems that for many people today, belief in God or the afterlife is something that belongs to the realm of fantasy and wishful-thinking. It’s common to come across those who would argue that there is no compelling evidence or irrefutable proof for the existence of God or for the continuation of life after death.
Given the rapid decline in religious affiliation, it appears possible for people to live happily and to engage with life’s questions and struggles without any reference to God or religion. It’s argued that, although life is essentially random and at times unfair – ‘this is as good as it gets’ because we have no evidence, no proof and no reason to believe otherwise.
Not that long ago, I came across an interesting reply to such a dim and narrow view of life and death in the form of an imagined conversation between twin foetuses talking to each other in their mother’s womb, engaged in a debate – not about ‘life after death’ – but rather, about the possibility of ‘life after birth’…
“Can you hear and feel that?” says one twin.
“Hear and feel what?” replies the other.
“If you’re quiet and wait for it, you can hear Mother’s voice and feel her caress.”
“Ugh, not that again. There’s no such thing as Mother. Look around you, we only have what’s in this womb.”
“I’m convinced”, the other sibling protests, “that there’s more to life than what’s in this womb and that we’re being prepared for a life beyond it.”
“This womb”, insists the more sceptical twin, “is all we’ve got. When birth takes us, life comes to an end, and we cease to exist.”
The other replies, “No, you’re wrong, of course there’s life after birth, otherwise why would we have mouths with which to eat, legs with which to walk, and hands with which to grasp and touch?”
“Nonsense!”, snaps the more sceptical twin, “Consider the evidence: we are totally dependent on our umbilical cords which are far too short to bring us food and air when we leave this place. The moment it’s cut, we die and that’s it.”
“I don’t know how it will work, but Mother will make a way”, replies the more hopeful sibling.
“Look”, retorts the other, “the fact is, even if Mother does exist, no one has ever come back to the womb after birth. We have no witness, no proof and no evidence for life beyond it.”
And yet… here we are.
On this Easter morning, Christians around the world celebrate the One who has returned – not from the womb, but from the grave. Jesus Christ didn’t just die for us, he rose for us. He now lives and calls us to live for him. The resurrection isn’t just a comforting idea or a symbolic concept – it’s a world-altering reality. It’s proof that God has not abandoned us to meaninglessness or death. It’s the declaration that sin, suffering, and even the grave do not get the last word.
But some people say, ‘I wish I can believe’ or ‘I wish I had stronger faith’. But let me tell you, every person is capable of faith because faith is something we exercise all the time…
We set the alarm at night with faith that we’ll wake up in the morning. We board a plane with faith that it will stay up in the air, even without investigating or understanding the complexities of aerodynamics. We take the medication our doctor prescribes and the pharmacist dispenses, without question, because we have faith in their expertise. Newlyweds have faith that their marriage will last a lifetime. Expectant parents place faith in their ability to raise a child – even if it’s their first. Uni students have faith that after completing their degree, they’ll land a good paying job. And even criminals have faith that they won’t get caught.
So, the real issue for most of us is not a lack of faith, but rather a reluctance to place our faith in God because faith in God demands more from us. It means that we must rethink our values, change our behaviour, and live not just for today, but with eternity in mind. It’s not that we can’t believe – it’s that belief comes with responsibility, and sometimes we fear the transformation that follows.
Easter confronts us with a choice. If Jesus is alive, then everything he did and everything he said and promised, demands our response. This isn’t just a story to admire – it’s a truth to build your life upon. The tomb is empty, Christ is risen, and now he calls you to rise and live for him.