Yes

Easter Sunday message 2016

“How do you say ‘yes’ in the Syrian language?” an eight-year-old Icelandic boy asked his teacher during a discussion about refugees in class. When the teacher asked him why he wanted to know, the boy responded: “If I meet a Syrian refugee and they ask me for help I want to be able to say 'yes' in their own language.”

On Easter we celebrate God's victory over death and God's endless love. And we are reminded that in Jesus, God talks to us in our own language.

All that is required of us is a ‘yes’. But what does this ‘yes’ of following Jesus mean?

It means meeting other people with respect.

It means noticing those in need.

It means speaking out on their behalf.

It means helping in any way we can.

Lutheran churches all over the world preach the gospel in words and actions.  They are active in helping others, engaging with global issues and speaking out on behalf of those whose voices are not being heard. As a network of 145 churches in 98 countries, The Lutheran World Federation is able to serve people from across the world, and say "yes" through its work with respect for people in their own language.

On Easter we hear God’s ‘yes’ in the angel’s message to the women who came to the tomb: "He is not here, for he has been raised ... Go quickly and tell his disciples (Mt 28:6-7)."

So go forth, be brave, tell the good news and say ‘yes’ to God in your life, by being God's hands on earth. Say it in your own language, act it through your life and in your own context. Every new day is a gift from God and an opportunity for us to show our fellow human beings in need that they are God’s precious creation and we are willing to say ‘yes’ in their own language when they ask for help.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for (Mt 25:40b)”

Magnea Sverrisdottir is a deacon and school teacher from Iceland. She has served on the LWF Council since  2010, supporting the work of the Committee for Mission and Development.