April 16, 2022 (Easter Vigil)
/by Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, O.P.
[This is the text composed by the homilist prior to delivering the homily.]
Who were the brave ones? … Certainly not the men! … They betrayed, denied, and fled. … It was “the women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee.” Affection brought them, it steeled their nerves to stand before him dying, and brought them to anoint his body.
But the surprise of the stone rolled away and an empty tomb “puzzled” them. What does it mean? … Just as they stood before the empty tomb, we sometimes stand before the empty tombs of our own lives puzzled. What does my life mean?
What does our life-together mean when so many tombs are all too full in Ukraine and 27 places of armed conflict? Don’t forget the 36 million annually dying of starvation, 6.2 million Covid dead, and the 46,000 American dead by guns yearly all because we really don’t care for each other. … No wonder for too many youths, God is not dead, he never existed.
Then two men in dazzling garments appeared and told the women that Jesus was risen. … Instead of joy, terror bowed their heads to the ground. “Why do you seek the living one among the dead?” … Isn’t that us? We seek life and happiness in the wrong persons and places. But nonetheless they went to the apostles despite their fear.
Maybe it's a guy thing, but the men didn’t listen to the women for “their story seemed like nonsense, and they didn’t believe them.”
Would we have believed? … Why does anyone believe, when so much of Jesus seems impractical nonsense? … Lord, I love judging others; getting even is better, who wants to repay good for evil, loving the enemy is so naïve. … Impractical nonsense! … Now that word, nonsense, leros, in Greek, is loaded. It is totally condescending! Isn’t that how we treat much of Jesus’ teachings?
But what made the message that he is Risen seem such nonsense? … First century Jews hoped for the resurrection when God would raise everyone and remake the earth. …Well, unless you were a Sadducee who thought dead was dead! … Most Jews expected a general resurrection coming with the full realization of God’s kingdom. … No wonder the apostles argued who would be greatest? Stake your claim now before he gives it away! … No wonder Thomas doubted. If Jesus is risen, why is everything still the same? … Isn’t that the problem of so many? If resurrection brings the kingdom, where is it?
In the second Eucharist Prayer’s preface, we pray: Hestretched out his hands as he endured his Passion, so as to break the bonds of death and manifest the resurrection. … Isn’t that curious, the resurrection isn’t merely seen, it has to be manifested, it has to be revealed?
Resurrection demands a new way of seeing that God and grace only can give. Without it, the risen one is mere gardener. Throughout all the disciples saw but had a hard time recognizing Jesus. As one Dominican wrote: “The point is not that Jesus looked different; they had never really seen who he was.” (Timothy Radcliffe OP)
Consider your own experiences … have you ever gazed at your beloved, a family member or friend or and seen the wondrous more? … Her face shimmers, … , his voice resonates …, their touch awakens, all the while your heart warms and love deepens. That kind of seeing happens only when the heart is still enough to savor the other. … When you pray the face of a loved one, your love discovers more, while routine can blind you to the other.
In the many conversations that I had with my father, the one most overarching, and always repeated theme was his profound thankfulness for my mother. He prayed my mother’s face often.
St Exupery’s The Little Prince wrote; “Only with the heart does one see aright?” Love sees in contemplation. But if this is true of Jesus and his resurrection, it is true too of the kingdom he brings. It really is operating now but we don’t take the time to see it!
Instead we imagine concern is getting to heaven. Really? … If you bear Jesus’ image, your task is to be and bring a bit of heaven to earth. … Isn’t that what we pray in the Our Father? …The kingdom’s full realization is in God’s hands, but he has placed this moment in yours. Every time you live the Gospel, a bit of heaven is made now and a new invitation is given to others. Every time you come to communion you are to take Jesus’ presence out there.
The disciples didn’t recognize Jesus because they didn’t grasp what kind of Messiah he was, and the Kingdom he was bringing. Even at the last supper, they wanted a warrior to put them on thrones. Instead, he showed the kingdom by washing their feet, serving them, calling the marginalized, loving the enemy, conquering evil by good, bringing fellowship. We glimpse is kingdom on the cross: Father forgive them.
All dollar bills proclaim with incredible hubris, Novus Ordo Seculorum, a new order of the ages is beginning. Is it really new or is it a new packaging of old death dealing empire of power, greed and fame?
The Easter experience “is more than just meeting a man who was dead and now lives. It is finding oneself in a new world, in which’s power is broken.” (Timothy Radcliffe)
Throughout the ages, God has sent unlikely saints to call us to our senses and his kingdom. The Church and Christians fail, but God is faithful and resurrects new life to the willing. They surprise us still when they cloths the naked, feed the hungry, tend the sick, adopt forlorn children, work with the addict, stand with the ostracized, reconcile the warring, reach out to the lonely … You can fill in the picture.
I want to say a personal thank you to those baptized. Like the women in the Gospels, you came and faced your own empty tomb, and by your action here tonight announce, the Lord is risen! You are brave for fear keeps too many timid. Don’t let this praise go to you head., the Christian life is a journey … keep pondering the Gospel, keep engaging others, keep listening to the Spirit.
Your action challenge us to reflect, pray and act. Thank you. It reminds us all to listen to the Lord’s voice, Come, follow me!
